ED Raids TMC’s IPAC Chief: Mamata Banerjee Blasts ‘Naughty Home Minister’ Amit Shah

ED raids TMC IPAC's house: Mamata hits out at Amit Shah; asks ‘is this the job of home minister?’

In the simmering cauldron of West Bengal’s political landscape, a new flashpoint has emerged. On January 8, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of searches at the residence of Prateek Jain, the chief of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a key strategic partner for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) . The raid, ostensibly part of a money laundering probe, quickly escalated into a major political confrontation as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived on-site, launching a blistering attack on the central government and, pointedly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah .

Banerjee’s core accusation? That this wasn’t a routine law enforcement action but a politically motivated attempt to cripple her party just months before a crucial state assembly election. Her now-viral question, “Is this the job of the home minister?” has become the rallying cry for the TMC’s narrative of persecution .

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What Happened During the ED Raids TMC Operation?

The day’s events unfolded with high drama in Kolkata. ED teams arrived at Prateek Jain’s residence to conduct searches as part of an ongoing investigation, which local media reports have linked to alleged irregularities in civic body recruitments—a case that has already seen other TMC leaders like Minister Sujit Bose face scrutiny .

However, the situation took a sharp turn when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally arrived at the scene. She alleged that the ED officials were not just searching for financial documents but were attempting to seize the party’s most sensitive digital assets. “The ED was trying to access the ruling party’s internal strategy, candidate lists and confidential digital material,” Banerjee claimed, framing the raid as an assault on the party’s electoral preparedness .

She went further, describing the action as “not law enforcement, this is political vendetta” and directly called out the Union Home Minister, labeling him the “nasty, naughty Home Minister” for allegedly directing such actions against a state government [[30], [31]].

Who is IPAC and Prateek Jain?

To understand the significance of this raid, one must look at the target: I-PAC. The Indian Political Action Committee is India’s leading political consultancy, founded by the now-retired strategist Prashant Kishor . I-PAC has been instrumental in crafting some of the country’s most successful election campaigns.

For the TMC, its relationship with I-PAC has been pivotal. The consultancy played a “pivotal role in the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s monumental victory in recent [state] elections,” helping the party counter a formidable BJP challenge . Prateek Jain, as the current head of I-PAC’s operations for the TMC, is effectively the architect of the party’s digital and on-ground political strategy for the upcoming 2026 polls .

Targeting Jain’s residence, therefore, is not just about one individual. It’s seen by TMC as a direct strike at the very heart of their campaign machinery—a move they believe is designed to create chaos and leak their strategic plans to their rivals .

Why is Mamata Banerjee Targeting Amit Shah?

Mamata Banerjee’s focus on Amit Shah is a deliberate political strategy. As the Union Home Minister, Shah oversees the Ministry of Home Affairs, under which the Enforcement Directorate and other central investigative agencies like the CBI fall. While these agencies are supposed to be independent, the TMC and other opposition parties have long accused the central government of using them as political tools.

By publicly questioning, “Is it the duty of the ED, Amit Shah to collect the party’s hard disk, candidate list?”, Banerjee is doing two things . First, she is nationalizing a local raid, turning it into a debate about federalism and the misuse of central agencies. Second, she is directly challenging her main political opponent in the state, framing him as an overreaching, authoritarian figure who is willing to subvert democratic institutions for electoral gain.

This narrative of a central government harassing a democratically elected state government is a powerful one in Indian politics, and Banerjee is a master at deploying it effectively .

The Political Fallout and 2026 Elections

The timing of the ED raids TMC operation is critical. West Bengal is slated to hold its assembly elections in 2026, and both the TMC and the BJP are in a fierce battle to woo voters. The TMC, which has been in power since 2011, is fighting to maintain its stronghold, while the BJP is looking to make significant inroads after a strong showing in the 2019 and 2024 general elections.

For the TMC, this raid provides a potent symbol of resistance. They can now frame their 2026 campaign as a fight to protect West Bengal’s autonomy from a central government that seeks to control it through its agencies. This could galvanize their core voter base and attract support from those wary of central overreach.

Here’s a quick look at the potential implications:

  • For the TMC: An opportunity to rally its cadre, unify its leadership, and frame the narrative around a common enemy.
  • For the BJP: A chance to highlight alleged corruption within the TMC ranks, but they risk appearing as bullies if the public perceives the raid as an overreach.
  • For the Voter: The event adds another layer of complexity to an already intense political environment, forcing them to decide whether this is a legitimate probe or political harassment.

Just a few days before this raid, the political temperature was already high, with Amit Shah in the state criticizing the TMC government on issues of law and order and illegal immigration . This raid has now injected a fresh wave of tension into an already volatile situation.

Summary and Key Takeaways

The ED raids TMC operation on IPAC chief Prateek Jain’s residence is far more than a simple investigative action. It’s a high-stakes political gambit that has triggered a fierce response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. By labeling the raid a “political vendetta” and directly challenging Home Minister Amit Shah’s role, Banerjee has successfully elevated a local event into a national debate about the use and potential misuse of central agencies. With the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections on the horizon, this incident is likely to become a central plank in the TMC’s campaign strategy, framing their fight as one for the state’s dignity and against central authoritarianism. For more on the ongoing political tension in the region, see our coverage on [INTERNAL_LINK:west-bengal-politics].

Sources

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