West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for raiding offices linked to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its political consultancy, I‑PAC, saying the action was politically motivated. She accused the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of trying to gather secret information about her party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
The ED conducted searches at multiple Kolkata locations connected to I‑PAC and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain. Officials reportedly seized hard disks, files, and documents that included details of potential TMC candidates, campaign strategies, voter outreach plans, and election-related materials. Banerjee said this went beyond the ED’s legal authority and amounted to an attempt to collect private party information.
Banerjee personally visited the I‑PAC offices during the raids, calling the action “unjust” and “politically motivated.” She directly criticised Amit Shah, calling him a “nasty” Home Minister, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the misuse of central agencies. She said political battles should be fought in elections, not through the seizure of internal party data.
In response to the raids, Banerjee announced statewide protests and planned a rally in Kolkata, saying democratic processes were being undermined. BJP leaders, however, defended the ED, saying the agency was acting within its legal powers, and accused the TMC of trying to obstruct the investigation.
Separately, an unidentified speaker criticised sections of the media, calling them “godi media,” and accused the BJP of spreading misleading stories, including claims about attacks on Bangla. The comments highlighted concerns about media bias and political narratives as elections approach.
These developments have heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with parties preparing for assembly elections likely in April–May 2026. The ED’s action and the strong reactions from Mamata Banerjee underline the intense contest between the ruling TMC and the BJP in the state.
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