The Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched a sharp accusation on Friday, alleging that the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) investigation into a coal scam is selectively targeting the current chief of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), Pratik Jain, while sparing its founder, Prashant Kishor. The party claims the move is politically motivated, directly linked to Kishor's current political activities in Bihar.
The Core Allegation: Political Targeting Over Legal Process
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty presented the party's argument, pointing out a chronological inconsistency. The ED's complaint is based on events from 2020, a period when Prashant Kishor was leading I-PAC. "Who was at the helm of I-PAC then? It was Prashant Kishor. Then why is Pratik Jain being targeted by ED and not Kishor?" Chakraborty questioned. He provided a blunt answer: "Jain is now helping TMC with its party strategy. And Kishor, with his Jan Suraaj party in Bihar, divided opposition votes, which helped BJP."
ED's Raids: A Bid for TMC's Strategic Data?
Chakraborty further claimed that the recent ED raids on I-PAC offices revealed the agency's "real motives." He emphasized that the probe pertains to activities in Goa during Kishor's tenure. "The cat is now out of the bag. ED's real target was TMC's candidate list, strategy documents and SIR-related data," the TMC leader alleged. This suggests the party views the investigation as a front to access its confidential electoral planning rather than a genuine corruption probe.
Historical Context and Mamata's Veiled Reference
The relationship between TMC and Prashant Kishor has seen significant shifts. While the party's unease with the strategist was evident after its third consecutive state victory in 2021, it had refrained from public criticism. Kishor formally parted ways with I-PAC to launch his own political venture, 'Jan Suraaj', in Bihar in 2024.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a fleeting reference to the controversy during her protest march against the ED raids. "When Narendra Modi became PM in 2014, I-PAC worked for him. Back then, Kishor was there. Now he is not there. Pratik oversees it," Banerjee stated, subtly highlighting the change in I-PAC's leadership and its past associations.
The allegations have intensified the political discourse around central agencies' actions, framing them within the context of the upcoming electoral battles, particularly the Bihar elections anticipated in 2025. The TMC's direct accusation links the legal probe to Kishor's role in potentially fracturing the opposition vote share in Bihar, a claim that adds a new layer of political intrigue to the ongoing investigation.
