In a sharp political exchange, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has openly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s conduct during Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on her close aide. Sarma accused Banerjee of creating unnecessary drama and obstructing central agency operations, calling her actions a blatant attempt to shield corruption.
The controversy erupted amid ED’s ongoing investigations into alleged scams in West Bengal, particularly targeting Partha Chatterjee, Banerjee’s former education minister. During the raids, Banerjee was seen protesting vehemently outside Chatterjee’s residence, drawing crowds and alleging political vendetta by the BJP-led central government.
“Mamata Banerjee’s theatrics are nothing but a desperate bid to protect her corrupt associates,” Sarma stated in a press conference today. He highlighted how such interference hampers the agency’s work and undermines efforts to root out financial irregularities plaguing the state.
Sarma, who defected from Congress to BJP in 2015 before rising to Assam’s top post, has been a vocal critic of Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). He pointed to multiple ED cases against TMC leaders, including cattle smuggling and coal scams, as evidence of systemic issues in Bengal’s governance.
Banerjee, in response, has repeatedly claimed the raids are timed to derail her government’s welfare schemes ahead of elections. She rallied supporters, framing the ED actions as an assault on federalism.
This spat underscores deepening rifts between BJP-ruled states and opposition strongholds. As ED continues its probes, political tempers remain high, with Sarma urging Banerjee to cooperate rather than confront. The episode raises questions about the balance between state autonomy and central anti-corruption drives, keeping national politics on edge.