Suvendu Adhikari gets dual state and central security after PA murder
Synopsis
Days after his personal assistant Chandranath Rath was murdered on 6 May, newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has been placed under a dual security shield — both central forces and state police — as Nabanna officials say they are unwilling to take any risks with his safety.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari will now receive security from both state police and central forces simultaneously.
The decision follows the murder of his personal assistant Chandranath Rath on 6 May .
Adhikari has held Z-category central security since leaving TMC for BJP in December 2020 .
State police formally took over his security after he was sworn in as Chief Minister on Saturday , but the central arrangement has been retained.
Officials say security is being managed to avoid disrupting the Chief Minister's official programmes or public movement.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will receive security cover from both state police and central forces following the murder of his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, on 6 May, officials at the state secretariat Nabanna confirmed on Sunday, 10 May. The administration has made clear it is unwilling to take any chances with the Chief Minister's safety in the current climate.
Why the Security Has Been Doubled
The decision to deploy both state and central forces comes directly in the wake of the killing of Chandranath Rath, who served as Adhikari's personal assistant. Officials at Nabanna said the murder prompted an immediate security review, with the administration concluding that a single-agency arrangement was no longer sufficient. The Union Home Ministry has decided to continue the existing central security arrangement, while the state government will simultaneously deploy police personnel for additional protection.
A Long History With Central Security
Suvendu Adhikari first began receiving central force protection after he left the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December 2020. When he became the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in 2021, the Union Home Ministry extended him Z-category security cover — an arrangement that continued uninterrupted. Notably, the state government had at one point sought to replace central forces with state police personnel for his security, but Adhikari had reportedly declined to agree to the proposal at that time.
What Changed After the Oath Ceremony
Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, following which state police formally assumed primary responsibility for his security — as is standard protocol for a sitting Chief Minister. However, the murder of his personal assistant just days earlier meant that officials were not prepared to rely solely on the new arrangement. The dual-force deployment is being treated as an interim measure while the security situation is assessed.
Balancing Safety and Convenience
Despite the elevated threat perception, Adhikari is reportedly not in favour of an excessive security apparatus around him. Officials at Nabanna said his protection is being calibrated to avoid disrupting his official programmes or public movement. A senior official said:
Point of View
A Chief Minister's security is the state's exclusive domain — the continued Union Home Ministry involvement is a pointed reminder of the political fault lines that define Adhikari's position. He is a BJP Chief Minister in a state where TMC holds power in the legislature, making his security calculus inherently political. The murder of his personal assistant is not just a law-and-order failure — it is a test of whether the state administration can be trusted to protect a Chief Minister from the opposing party.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Suvendu Adhikari receiving both state and central security?
Following the murder of his personal assistant Chandranath Rath on 6 May, officials at Nabanna decided the security risk was too high to rely on a single agency. Both state police and central forces will now be deployed simultaneously as a precautionary measure.
Who was Chandranath Rath?
Chandranath Rath was the personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He was murdered on 6 May, prompting an immediate review of the Chief Minister's security arrangements.
When did Suvendu Adhikari first get central security cover?
Adhikari began receiving central force protection after leaving the TMC and joining the BJP in December 2020. The Union Home Ministry later extended him Z-category cover when he became Leader of the Opposition in 2021.
Has the state government tried to change his security before?
Yes. The state government had previously sought to replace central forces with state police for Adhikari's security, but he had reportedly not agreed to that proposal at the time.
How is the security being managed to avoid disruption?
Officials at Nabanna have said security arrangements are being calibrated so that the Chief Minister's official programmes and public movement are not unnecessarily disrupted, despite the heightened protection level.
