Party alleges misuse of central agency ahead of elections
January 9, 2026: A sharp political confrontation has broken out in West Bengal after the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP-led central government of misusing the Enforcement Directorate for political gains ahead of upcoming elections. TMC leaders alleged that the central agency has been turned into a tool of “political loot,” with raids selectively carried out to intimidate opposition leaders before crucial polls.
Questioning the timing of the action, TMC leaders pointed to an old coal-related case and asked why the ED moved suddenly after several years, just a month before elections. The party claimed the raids were part of a deliberate strategy to create fear and disrupt its organisational strength as election announcements draw closer.
Protests erupted across the state, including in Hooghly and Kolkata, where TMC workers and supporters took to the streets against the ED’s actions. Senior leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, joined the demonstrations, accusing the Centre of undermining democratic processes. With elections approaching, the political temperature in Bengal continues to rise.