Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Union government, alleging that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) in West Bengal is a “pressure tactic” designed to influence the upcoming state Assembly elections.
In a statement shared via his WhatsApp channel, Yadav questioned the timing of the investigative agency’s move, noting that it occurred just as the state prepares to enter a high-stakes electoral cycle.
“Even before the West Bengal Assembly elections start, the ED has once again knocked at the door,” Yadav stated, adding that the agency had “raided the premises of IPAC, the agency working for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.” Highlighting the gravity of the incident, the SP leader claimed that Banerjee personally visited the IPAC headquarters following the raid. He suggested the action was politically loaded, remarking, “If any kind of irregularity is found, it will create difficulties for Mamata Banerjee.”
This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing friction between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP-led central government. IPAC, founded by Prashant Kishor, has been instrumental in the TMC’s previous electoral successes and continues to provide strategic support to the ruling party in West Bengal. The TMC has frequently accused the BJP of weaponizing central agencies like the ED and CBI to destabilize the state government and intimidate political opponents—a charge the BJP consistently denies, maintaining that these agencies operate independently and follow the rule of law.
As West Bengal prepares for elections later this year, the raid on a key consultancy firm has intensified the debate over the role of central agencies during poll seasons. Opposition parties have rallied behind Banerjee, viewing the move as part of a broader pattern of targeting rivals in poll-bound states. While the specific details and findings of the ED’s action have not yet been made public, the incident has significantly raised the political temperature in a state already known for its intensely competitive and often volatile electoral atmosphere.