With the state assembly elections approaching, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has withdrawn the security cover of 32 BJP leaders in West Bengal without prior notification to the protectees.
The list spans across the state, from John Barla in north Bengal to Shankudev Panda and IPS officer Debashis Dhar in the south.
Several of these leaders previously had security details ranging from two to six personnel.
However, the MHA has not provided any official clarification regarding the sudden decision, deepening the mystery surrounding the move.
Among others affected are former BJP MP Dashrath Tirkey, state joint convener Debabrata Biswas, Jhargram BJP leader Pranath Tudu, and leader Pranati Majhi.
While no BJP leader has publicly stated the reason behind the withdrawal, internal party sources suggest a strategic political calculation.
According to BJP insiders, the high command assessed that these leaders were unlikely to contribute to the party’s electoral gains in the upcoming elections.
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The full list of the 32 BJP leaders is here:
Additionally, there are suspicions that some among them were considering defection to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), as their interactions with TMC functionaries had raised eyebrows.
In some instances, these leaders' actions had inadvertently benefited the TMC, leading to BJP’s loss in specific assembly constituencies during the last Lok Sabha elections, said a BJP leader.
The withdrawal of security, therefore, is being seen as a strong message from the party—signalling that the leadership is neither dependent on nor concerned about these leaders should they decide to switch allegiances.
The move reflects the BJP’s evolving strategy in Bengal’s volatile political landscape, where defections and counter-defections have become routine.
John Barla, one of the affected leaders, responded to the MHA’s decision, stating, "Even when they provided security, they did not inform us. Now, they have withdrawn it without explanation. However, I have heard that this applies not just to me but to many others as well."
Bengal's political dynamics remain fluid, with the BJP still grappling with the organisational challenges of consolidating its presence in a state historically dominated by the TMC and earlier by the Left.
The security withdrawal, coupled with recent internal reshuffling, indicates that the party is in the midst of a strategic recalibration—one that may define its prospects in the upcoming assembly elections.
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