In a significant escalation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids at multiple offices of the political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata and Delhi. This marks the first instance of a private election management company being targeted by the central probe agency, intensifying the political storm in the run-up to crucial state assembly elections.
Scope of the Raids and Political Connections
Searches were carried out at a total of 10 premises linked to I-PAC, with six locations in Kolkata and four in the national capital. Among the places raided was the residence of I-PAC Director Pratik Jain. The action is reportedly connected to an alleged coal smuggling scam investigation.
The timing and target have raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. I-PAC is currently the chief election strategist for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, a state headed for polls in March-April where the BJP is the main challenger. Furthermore, I-PAC's other major client is the DMK, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, which is also scheduled for assembly elections soon.
Opposition Slams "Weaponisation" of Agencies
Leaders from various opposition parties swiftly condemned the ED's move, framing it as a direct attack on political rivals by the BJP-led central government. They argued that raiding a consultancy deeply involved in crafting the TMC's election strategy, including candidate screening, was tantamount to raiding a party office itself on the eve of elections.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi accused the BJP of "weaponising" agencies, stating, "The ED now raids political consultants because it has failed to raid facts, truth or credibility." Congress's Ghulam Ahmed Mir questioned the timing, asking why the action wasn't taken years earlier if there was evidence.
Even political rivals of the TMC, like the CPI(M), expressed skepticism. State secretary Md Salim called the raids "stage-managed," citing past investigations where outcomes were unclear. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, saw the action as a sign of BJP's anxiety, calling it the first "proof" that the party was "losing badly" in Bengal.
A History of Election-Time Actions and I-PAC's Journey
This incident has reignited the persistent opposition allegation that the BJP uses central agencies to target opponents, especially before elections. A 2022 analysis highlighted that a vast majority of cases involving politicians filed by the ED and CBI under the Modi government were against opposition figures.
The current case itself was registered by the CBI months before the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls. The TMC has frequently been under the ED's scanner, with several senior leaders, including former ministers Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick, arrested in various scams.
Founded by Prashant Kishor, I-PAC first gained fame by steering the BJP's successful 2014 Lok Sabha campaign centred on Narendra Modi. Since then, it has worked with a diverse array of parties including the Congress, JD(U), YSRCP, Shiv Sena, and Aam Aadmi Party. Its longest association has been with the TMC since 2021. Kishor has since moved on from the firm.
As Bengal inches closer to voting day, the ED's raids on I-PAC have added a fresh, contentious layer to an already heated electoral battlefield, ensuring that the debate over the autonomy and use of central agencies will remain a central political theme.
