Premium

‘Will gherao EC office next’: Mamata says BJP using central agencies to ‘snatch’ TMC’s poll strategy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a massive protest against ED raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC, alleging the BJP is using central agencies to steal the TMC’s electoral strategy and intimidate the Opposition.

2 min readJan 10, 2026 08:01 AM IST

She announced plans to gherao the Election Commission office, warning against any move to undermine voters’ rights in Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP of using the ED raids on I-PAC to access the TMC’s electoral strategy. (Express Photo)

Leading a massive protest rally against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP of using central agencies to “snatch” the TMC’s electoral strategy and announced to gherao the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) office as part of her next political programme.

Addressing the rally, Banerjee alleged that the ED searches at I-PAC premises, which provide political consultancy to the TMC and manage its IT operations, were aimed at accessing the party’s internal strategy.

Banerjee accused central agencies of functioning as “political tools” of the BJP and warned the ruling party at the Centre against underestimating Bengal.

“All agencies have been captured. You forcibly captured Maharashtra, Haryana and Bihar. Do you think you can capture Bengal too?” she asked, adding, “If someone tries to hit me politically, I get politically rejuvenated and reborn. Chief Election Commissioner (Gyanesh Kumar) is coming here to delete the names of 1.5 crore voters. If you try to snatch the power of voting, we will fight back, we will gherao the Election Commission office.”

“What I did yesterday, I did as the TMC chairperson. I have done nothing illegal,” she said, referring to her appearance at the I-PAC office and at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain during the raids.

Also Read | ‘Why are you so worried, Mamata ji?’: BJP raps West Bengal CM for ‘snatching files’ during ED raid at I-PAC chief Pratik Jain’s Kolkata house

Claiming that ED officials entered the premises early in the morning, Banerjee said that by the time she arrived, “many things might already have been taken away.”

“If someone tries to kill me politically, don’t I have the right to defend myself?” she asked, asserting that central agencies were being used as political tools.

Story continues below this ad

Alleging that the money trail ran through “traitors”, in an apparent reference to former TMC leaders now with the BJP, she described what she called a chain linking “Jagannath to Suvendu to Amit Shah”, warning that she had proof stored in pen drives.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Loading Taboola...