Speaking at a public rally after leading a nearly 10-kilometre-long protest march in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo defended her presence at the raid site, asserting that she had acted strictly in her role as party chairperson and not as head of the state government.
“I acted as party chief, not as chief minister”
Banerjee said her unexpected visit to the I-PAC office during the ED searches was entirely legitimate. “What I did yesterday, I did as the chairperson of the Trinamool Congress. I have done nothing illegal,” she said.
The ED had conducted searches at offices linked to I-PAC — a political consultancy firm working with the TMC — as well as at the residence of its India head, Pratik Jain. The agency has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s allegations.
Allegations of political espionage ahead of 2026 polls
The West Bengal chief minister suggested that the timing and manner of the raids pointed to a political motive, particularly with the 2026 state assembly elections on the horizon.
“You entered at 6 am; I went at 11.45 am. By then, many things might have already been taken away,” Banerjee said, alleging that sensitive political and strategic data could have been seized before her arrival. She accused the ED of attempting to “steal” her party’s electoral strategy under the guise of an investigation.
Escalating confrontation with New Delhi
Banerjee broadened her attack to include what she described as the systematic misuse of federal institutions by the BJP-led central government. “All agencies have been captured,” she said, accusing the ruling party of undermining democratic processes to gain power in multiple states.
“You captured Maharashtra, Haryana and Bihar by force. Do you think you can capture Bengal too?” she asked, striking a defiant tone and warning against what she sees as growing central overreach.
She added that political pressure only strengthens her resolve. “If someone tries to hit me politically, I get politically rejuvenated and reborn,” Banerjee told supporters.
Election Commission under fire
The chief minister also targeted India’s Election Commission, alleging that it had helped the BJP “steal” electoral mandates in other states and was now attempting a similar exercise in West Bengal.
She claimed that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was being used to delete the names of genuine voters, particularly those from marginalised sections. According to Banerjee, the exercise poses a threat to free and fair elections.
TMC to take protest to the national capital
Announcing her party’s next move, Banerjee said the TMC would raise the issue at the national level. “Our next destination will be the Election Commission in New Delhi,” she said, accusing the poll body of enabling voter harassment under the SIR process.