The West Bengal government has withdrawn the 'Z-plus' security cover provided to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, a senior government official confirmed on Monday, 11 May. The decision also strips Banerjee of the special pilot car facility he had enjoyed for years, marking the most significant security downgrade for a TMC leader since the party lost power in the state.

What Has Been Withdrawn

According to officials at Nabanna — the West Bengal secretariat — the additional security personnel deployed for Abhishek Banerjee will be pulled out in a phased manner. The pilot car facility, a visible symbol of political clout that had accompanied him on public movements for over a decade, has also been discontinued. An administrative directive to this effect was issued on Monday afternoon. Going forward, Banerjee will receive only the standard security cover entitled to a Member of Parliament, regulated under Union Home Ministry guidelines.

The Rationale Behind the Order

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chaired multiple high-level meetings at Nabanna on Monday, including an administrative review and a session with District Magistrates and senior police officers. According to sources, security arrangements for politicians featured prominently in the discussions. Adhikari reportedly conveyed that unnecessary security deployments should not be maintained if no credible threat exists, and questioned whether public funds should be spent to project political influence or social status. The security category change for Abhishek Banerjee followed directly from that directive.

A Gradual Rollback Since the Election

The scaling down of Banerjee's security had begun immediately after the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced. The first visible step was the removal of police guards from outside his office on Camac Street in Kolkata, which had previously remained under a heavy security blanket during the TMC government's tenure. Subsequently, security arrangements at his residence 'Santiniketan' on Harish Mukherjee Road were reduced, with all security-related equipment and infrastructure at the premises also removed. Monday's directive formalises the complete withdrawal of the Z-plus cover that had been in place for more than 10 years.

Former CM Mamata Banerjee Also Affected

The security curtailment extends beyond Abhishek Banerjee. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who resides on Harish Chatterjee Street in Kolkata, has also seen her security arrangements reduced. Within 24 hours of the change of government, barricades at the entrance of the lane leading to her residence were removed. Kolkata Police subsequently withdrew the additional security personnel deployed outside her home as well.

What Comes Next

Administrative sources indicated that the withdrawal of additional forces and special facilities will proceed in a phased manner, in line with Home Ministry norms. The moves signal a broader policy shift by the Adhikari government toward rationalising political security arrangements across the state, and are likely to draw a sharp political response from the TMC in the days ahead.