Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has once again levelled serious allegations against political consulting firm I-PAC, claiming that the organisation is working in collusion with the Purba Medinipur Superintendent of Police to exert coordinated pressure on BJP workers in the district for defection to Trinamool Congress (TMC). Adhikari on Thursday alleged that for the past few months, attempts have been made to persuade or pressure BJP workers and supporters in his constituency to switch sides, with I-PAC allegedly playing a key role in the process.
According to the East Midnapore’s Nandigram MLA, I-PAC representatives have been secretly contacting BJP leaders across various levels in the district. He claimed that these representatives have been verbally informing party workers about the “pressure” to join the ruling party and listing the benefits they would allegedly receive if they agreed. As an example, he mentioned Dilip Pal, BJP convener of the Amdabad-1 Gram Panchayat, stating that Pal was recently offered such an inducement but refused out of loyalty to the BJP.
Adhikari further alleged that Pal’s refusal had led to targeted pressure on his family. He claimed that Pal’s son, Dipanjan, who worked as a Village Police volunteer, was abruptly removed from his position as retaliation. He also noted that a case regarding the matter is already pending before the Calcutta High Court.
The opposition leader’s accusations against I-PAC are not new. Earlier, he had alleged that the organisation was involved in the SIR controversy, claiming that I-PAC was fabricating birth certificates to make deceased voters appear alive. This time, he widened his criticism to include the state police, alleging bias in favour of the ruling TMC.
Adhikari said he has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the West Bengal Police of wanting to retain Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in power and even campaigning to make her chief minister for a fourth term. In his letter, he argued that the state police should not be relied upon for election duties. He added that he alerted the Election Commission about these concerns three months in advance, anticipating that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) would be implemented in February, giving the ECI time to arrange alternatives.
He suggested that additional Central Forces be deployed to ensure free and fair elections. Noting that some responsibilities cannot be handled by the police and must be undertaken by central personnel, Adhikari proposed that police forces from outside West Bengal could also be brought in. He emphasised that the Election Commission should plan these measures in advance, stating that preparations need to begin immediately to ensure a secure and impartial electoral environment.
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