As anticipation builds for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the Centre has taken proactive measures to ensure the safety of key political figures by providing security cover to several individuals. Among those granted security protection are former Calcutta High Court Judge and BJP leader Abhijit Gangopadhyay, ex-Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Arjun Singh, BJP District General Secretary Abhijit Barman, and executive member of West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district Tapas Das, all of whom have been assigned security categories by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Gangopadhyay has been placed under the ‘Y+’ category, while Arjun Singh has been assigned security under the ‘Z’ category. On the other hand, both Barman and Das have been granted security under the ‘X’ category. The timing of this security provision is significant, as Gangopadhyay and Singh recently joined the BJP last month, highlighting the evolving political landscape in the state.
The security cover was extended to Gangopadhyay and Singh on March 27, shortly after their transition to the BJP, while Barman and Das were granted security on March 29. Gangopadhyay’s decision to join the BJP followed his resignation as a Calcutta High Court judge, and he is widely expected to contest in the upcoming general elections. Similarly, Arjun Singh returned to the BJP last month, nearly 20 months after leaving the party to join the TMC. His return is reminiscent of the developments preceding the 2019 General Election, wherein he contested from the Barrackpore constituency on a BJP ticket after being denied a ticket by the Trinamool Congress.
These security measures come amid escalating security threats and concerns for the safety of political figures in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, which are set to commence on April 19. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allocated security categories to these individuals considering various factors, including perceived threat levels and their roles in public affairs. Such measures are crucial for maintaining stability and ensuring the well-being of political leaders amidst the current volatile environment.
