Political Turmoil in West Bengal Ahead of Assembly Elections

As West Bengal prepares for its assembly elections, a significant political drama has erupted following raids by the Enforcement Directorate on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condemned these actions as politically motivated, accusing the Union Home Minister of misusing government agencies. The raids, linked to a money laundering investigation, have raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Banerjee's swift response, including visits to the raid sites, marks a notable moment in the state's political history. This unfolding situation is sure to impact the upcoming elections and the political landscape in West Bengal.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 9, 2026, 12:18 IST

Political Drama Unfolds in Kolkata

In West Bengal, the assembly elections scheduled for April-May have already sparked significant political drama. Two teams from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrived at the offices of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata. The ED is currently investigating a money laundering case linked to a coal smuggling scandal from 2020.

One team targeted the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain on Loudon Street, while the other raided their office in Salt Lake. This action has incited anger from the state's Chief Minister, who has directed her ire towards the Union Home Minister. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the raids as acts of political vengeance, labeling them as criminal activities and criticized Home Minister Amit Shah for his alleged misconduct. She questioned the effectiveness of the Home Minister, suggesting that if they were to conduct raids on BJP offices, what would the outcome be?

Banerjee expressed concern over the ED's seizure of their electoral strategy, SIR data, and other sensitive information. After failing to reach Jain by phone, she sensed something was amiss. Senior police officials, including Commissioner Verma, arrived at Jain's residence between 10:30 and 11:30 AM to verify the identities of the ED officials. Banerjee arrived around noon, stayed for seven minutes, and left with a green folder, a hard drive, and a mobile phone. She questioned whether Amit Shah had sent the ED to confiscate their party's electoral strategy and candidate list.

Banerjee, who is involved in formulating the electoral strategy, rushed to Jain's home upon hearing about the raid, staying for about 20-25 minutes before leaving with a file folder. She then proceeded to the I-PAC office, where she remained for approximately 3.5 hours. This incident marks a rare occurrence in the country, where a Chief Minister has taken such action during an ongoing raid. The ED has conducted searches at ten locations nationwide, including six in Bengal and four in Delhi.