The West Bengal government on Sunday upgraded the security of five Trinamool MLAs, all of whom are aligned with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel camp comprising 58 MLAs. The five legislators are Chandranath Sinha (Bolpur), Rajendra Prasad Singh (Nalhati), Mosaraf Hossain (Murarai), Bidhan Chandra Majhi (Nanoor), and Kajal Sheikh (Hasan). They represent the entire contingent of Trinamool lawmakers elected from Birbhum's eleven assembly seats, with the party having won only five in the district during the recent elections.
Contrast with Heavyweights
These upgrades stand in stark contrast to the treatment of Trinamool heavyweights, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, MP Abhishek Banerjee, and Birbhum strongman Anubrata Mondal. Their security has been reduced or withdrawn entirely since the BJP formed the government. Mondal's camp has complained that he has been left with virtually no security cover.
Specific Upgrades
Kajal Sheikh's security detail was increased from three to five armed guards. Nanoor MLA Bidhan Chandra Majhi's detail was doubled from two to four guards. When asked whether his alignment with Ritabrata had triggered the upgrades, Majhi replied cryptically: "Maybe. Only the officers from the administration and our leader of the opposition can answer this question."
The security enhancements come amid ongoing political tensions within the Trinamool Congress, as the rebel camp continues to challenge the party leadership. The five MLAs from Birbhum are seen as key figures in this faction, prompting the state government to bolster their protection.
