In a dramatic escalation of political tensions ahead of West Bengal's upcoming elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on January 9, 2026, leading a massive protest rally against recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office.
The raids, linked to a 2020 coal scam investigation, have ignited accusations of political vendetta from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) counters with claims of corruption cover-ups.
The protest march, starting from Jadavpur 8B bus stand and heading to Hazra More, saw hundreds of TMC workers, MPs like Sayani Ghosh, and celebrities such as actors Dev and Soham join Banerjee.
Midway, two children handed her flowers, symbolizing public support. Banerjee, often called the "Tigress of Bengal," filed two FIRs against the ED, alleging unlawful actions during raids at I-PAC head Pratik Jain's residence and office.
Court Chaos and Adjournment
The Calcutta High Court adjourned its hearing on the ED's petition to January 14, citing large crowds and chaos in the premises. The petition sought an FIR against Banerjee for allegedly interfering in the raids, including claims she removed files and a hard disk. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee accused Banerjee of "stealing evidence," calling it unprecedented. Meanwhile, ED officials clarified the raids were evidence-based, involving hawala transactions tied to coal smuggling, and not politically timed.
This legal standoff highlights growing friction between state and central agencies, especially as elections loom. Analysts note that I-PAC, founded by Prashant Kishor and now led by Jain, holds critical TMC data like candidate lists and strategies—making the raids a potential threat to the party's campaign.
TMC's Delhi Showdown and Broader Reactions
Parallel protests erupted in Delhi, where eight TMC MPs, including Derek O'Brien, Mahua Moitra, and Kirti Azad, demonstrated outside the Ministry of Home Affairs. Shouting slogans like "Modi-Shah’s dirty tricks won’t work in Bengal," they faced scuffles with police, leading to brief detentions. Moitra decried the ED's actions as "illegal seizure" timed suspiciously before polls, while Banerjee condemned the "shameful treatment" on X, calling it an attack on democracy.
Support came from allies like PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, who praised Banerjee's resilience, and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Anand Dubey. Critics, however, included Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who accused TMC of selective outrage, ignoring attacks on migrant workers. BJP figures like Ravi Shankar Prasad labeled Banerjee's interference "unconstitutional," with MP Saumitra Khan demanding her arrest and President's Rule.
Other reactions poured in: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized her response, while CPI's D Raja questioned the ED's timing. TMC's Abhishek Banerjee vowed Bengal wouldn't bow to "Delhi rulers," and the party targeted Home Minister Amit Shah for "arrogance."
Why This Matters Now: Insights and Takeaways
As West Bengal gears up for elections, these Mamata Banerjee ED raids underscore a broader trend of central agencies targeting opposition states, fueling debates on federalism. Expert perspectives, like those from political analyst Tirthankar Das, suggest this could polarize voters, boosting TMC's anti-BJP narrative if perceived as vendetta.
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