I-PAC Hits Pause Button in Bengal: Will It Dent TMC’s Poll Prospects?

Will I-PAC’s decision to pause operations in West Bengal impact the Trinamool Congress? The question looms large as chief minister Mamata Banerjee battles anti-incumbency while seeking a fourth consecutive term. With the first phase of polling scheduled for April 23, the TMC faces fresh turbulence after political consultancy firm I-PAC paused its official operations in Bengal citing legal complications. In an internal communication on April 20, I-PAC asked employees to pause field activities, limit external communication, and avoid official emails, with several teams shifting to remote work amid legal concerns and repeated summons. The situation stems from an ED probe that began as a money-laundering investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to a 2020 coal smuggling case. Searches were conducted at I-PAC offices in Kolkata and Delhi. While the ED maintained that the investigation was routine and not election-related. The matter escalated after Didi physically intervened during a raid at co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence. The agency claimed that documents and electronic evidence were removed—an allegation denied by the TMC. Mamata accused central agencies of targeting her party and attempting to seize sensitive political data, directly attacking Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The probe has led to the arrest of I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel and questioning of director Rishi Raj Singh. Amid disruptions, TMC supremo has termed the ED’s action a “conspiracy” to intimidate the TMC ahead of the April 23 and April 29 polls. Notably, despite past differences with I-PAC after strategist Prashant Kishor exited the organisation, the TMC leadership—particularly Abhishek Banerjee—had continued relying on I-PAC. In recent months, however, Abhishek’s office has developed an in-house structure mirroring the consultancy’s functions, potentially cushioning the impact of the current disruption.