SC to hear West Bengal bail plea ahead of crucial Nandigram polling

The Supreme Court will hear West Bengal's plea against bail granted to a Congress candidate in the Nandigram constituency on October 5, just hours before voting is scheduled to take place the following day. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the West Bengal government, flagged concerns about the timing, arguing that a hearing on October 5 would render the petition ineffective given that polling is slated for October 6. The state has challenged the bail decision in the apex court, seeking to overturn the lower court's order. The timing of the hearing has raised questions about the ability of the court to meaningfully intervene before the election takes place. The matter underscores ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding electoral processes in the state, with the Congress candidate's bail status becoming a contentious issue ahead of the constituency's polls.