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ED raided I-PAC’s office and its head Pratik Jain’s residence in Kolkata
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Mamata Banerjee accused Amit Shah of misusing central agencies for political gain
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Documents related to Trinamool’s poll strategy and candidate selection were allegedly seized
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Trinamool announced statewide protests as political tensions escalated
GG News Bureau
Kolkata. West Bengal 9th January – Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Centre, accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to politically target the Trinamool Congress ahead of the state’s Assembly elections expected later this year.
The allegations came after ED officials raided the Salt Lake Sector V office of political consultancy firm I-PAC, which works closely with the Trinamool Congress, as well as the Loudon Street residence of its head, Pratik Jain. Mamata personally visited both locations, spending nearly 45 minutes at the Sector V office amid heightened political tension.
Addressing the media, Mamata claimed the raids were aimed at collecting sensitive data related to Trinamool’s election preparations. She alleged that documents detailing the party’s likely candidates, campaign plans, and strategies were seized. “Amit Shah has sent the ED to collect data on my party’s candidates,” she said, accusing the BJP of trying to cripple the Trinamool’s poll machinery.
The chief minister also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in the home minister. Warning of political consequences, she said that such actions would backfire and cost the BJP dearly in Bengal. Earlier in the day, she had described Shah as a “nasty home minister,” escalating her rhetoric against the Centre.
Mamata defended I-PAC, stating that it is an authorised organisation working for a registered political party that follows legal and financial norms. She questioned why similar scrutiny was never directed at the BJP, accusing the ruling party at the Centre of using money and muscle power to undermine democracy.
The raids have further inflamed tensions in a state already on edge due to the Election Commission’s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Mamata claimed that lists prepared by I-PAC to train party workers on the SIR process were also taken away during the raid.
As news of the raids spread, Trinamool workers staged protests in several areas, including Mamata’s home constituency of Bhowanipore. The chief minister announced statewide demonstrations from 4 pm on Thursday, signalling that the issue would become a major political flashpoint in the run-up to the elections.
