The Trinamool Congress on Saturday complained to Union Home minister P Chidamabaram that the phones of party chief Mamata Banerjee and functionaries were being tapped with a senior police officer being entrusted with the task by the West Bengal government.

Alleging misuse of surveillance capabilities given by the Centre, Trinamool leader and Minister of state for Shipping Mukul Roy wrote to Chidambaram alleging that both landline and mobile phone of the party chief were being tapped, senior Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee told reporters here.

He claimed that the phone taps were to get information about discussions, movements of leaders and sympathisers.

Chatterjee, the Leader of the Opposition, alleged that an additional commissioner of police had been entrusted by the Left front government for the job, who had also received a promotion "for taking care of the Lalgarh problem".

He said the party demanded his immediate removal and action against him by the Centre. "A complaint was lodged on October 20, but more phone taps took place since then."

The government, he said, was "misusing" the surveillance capability given by the Centre for keeping track of the movements of terrorists.

"This government has stooped so low to cling to power after experiencing successive electoral defeats at the hands of Trinamool Congress," Chatterjee said.