In a sharp escalation of Bengal’s long-running confrontation with the Centre, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday recast the Enforcement Directorate’s raid on I-PAC as more than an isolated investigation, portraying it instead as a coordinated institutional offensive —where central agencies, electoral machinery and political power converge to reshape the electoral battlefield ahead of crucial contests in the state.
Addressing a public meeting at Matua dominated Taherpur, Mr Banerjee framed the ED action as part of a larger “coordinated assault on democracy”, alleging that central agencies were being weaponised to stifle the Opposition while fundamental rights of ordinary citizens were being eroded through electoral processes.
Referring to the ED raids on I-PAC, the political consultancy firm associated with Trinamul’s campaign management, Mr Banerjee alleged that the agency was targeted for assisting voters. “They will use the ED,” he said. “I-PAC developed an app to help people, so that voters don’t face harassment. It was created as part of ‘Didi’r Doot’ to help citizens. For helping the poor and working for Trinamul in the SIR process, ED was sent yesterday to raid them.”
In a scathing parallel attack, Mr Banerjee accused the Election Commission of India of undermining citizens’ voting rights. “On one hand, they send ED to silence the Opposition, and on the other, they use the EC to snatch away the fundamental right of common people. This is the BJP’s formula,” he alleged.
The Trinamul leader struck a populist chord, contrasting organisational strength with mass support. “You have everything ~ money, agencies, power ~ but you don’t have people,” he said, targeting the BJP. “Trinamul has nothing, but we have people. Khela hobe! In a democracy, the people are supreme.”
Naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, Mr Banerjee asserted that electoral verdicts were not shaped by power corridors in Delhi. “Amit Shah won’t vote, Narendra Modi won’t vote, media persons won’t vote. Votes will be cast by working people ~ labourers, farmers, mothers and brothers. And they will respond in a way that shatters your arrogance.”
Mr Banerjee also trained his guns on Union minister and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur, a prominent Matua face, signalling Trinamul’s intent to politically corner the BJP in a community that plays a decisive role in Nadia and North 24-Parganas districts.
Accusing the Centre of deploying every institution at its disposal, Mr Banerjee thundered: “Use ED, use CBI, use central forces, use the media, use the judiciary, use income tax, use all your financial power. But the people of Bengal will never bow their heads before BJP’s executioners or Delhi’s feudal lords.”
The Trinamul leader’s rhetoric sharpened further as he turned his focus to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the Election Commission of acting at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre. Raising a direct political ultimatum, Mr Banerjee said: “Today, we must raise our voice. Either grant unconditional citizenship or Modi must step down. Either grant unconditional citizenship or Amit Shah must step down. Either grant unconditional citizenship or Shantanu Thakur must step aside.”
The Trinamul leadership has consistently alleged that central agencies are being misused ahead of crucial electoral exercises.
With his speech in Taherpur, Abhishek has signalled that Trinamul will not merely defend itself against agency actions but will turn the narrative into a broader battle over democracy, citizenship and voting rights ~ especially in politically sensitive regions like the Matua belt, where electoral stakes remain high.tj