Kolkata’s political landscape heated up dramatically as Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters took to the streets in protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent raids. The demonstrations, marked by fervent slogans and large gatherings, have sparked a fierce political showdown between the ruling party and opposition leaders. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a vocal critic of the TMC, wasted no time in questioning the timing and intent behind these protests.
Chowdhury, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, raised pointed questions about the TMC’s aggressive response. ‘Why this sudden outrage only when ED knocks on their doors?’ he asked, alluding to past instances where similar actions against opposition parties went unchallenged by TMC. He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, pointing out their silence on ED probes involving other political figures.
The ED raids targeted several TMC leaders in connection with alleged money laundering in municipal contracts. Sources indicate that documents seized could reveal deep-rooted corruption networks spanning years. TMC, however, dismissed the operations as politically motivated vendettas orchestrated by the central government to undermine West Bengal’s elected leadership ahead of key elections.
As tensions simmer, security has been beefed up around protest sites. Political analysts see this as a classic pre-election maneuver, with both sides vying for public sympathy. Chowdhury urged the Election Commission to take note of what he called ‘manufactured unrest’ to sway voters. TMC countered by organizing more rallies, framing the ED actions as an assault on federalism.
The coming days promise more fireworks, with opposition unity talks gaining momentum. Whether these protests bolster TMC’s image or expose vulnerabilities remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Bengal’s political battle lines are firmly drawn.