Mamata Banerjee denied PSO choice: Bengal CM Adhikari clarifies
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has drawn a firm line: Mamata Banerjee will not get PSOs of her choice — full stop. With TMC MPs crying foul on social media and six party legislators personally pleading with Adhikari, the row over a routine security reshuffle has become the sharpest flashpoint yet between Bengal's new government and its most prominent opposition figure.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday denied that former CM Mamata Banerjee's security had been withdrawn or reduced.
Kolkata Police replaced two PSOs who had been with Banerjee since 2011 ; she and her associates refused entry to the replacements.
Banerjee continues to receive 'Z+' security with the same number of personnel, according to Adhikari.
TMC Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose , and Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra , alleged security withdrawal on social media.
Six TMC legislators pleaded for reinstatement of the original PSOs; Adhikari declined, saying no one can choose their own security personnel.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, 19 June 2025, firmly rejected allegations that the state government had withdrawn or curtailed the security cover of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that she would not be permitted to choose her own personal security officers (PSOs) under any circumstances. The clarification came a day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose, along with Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra, publicly accused the government of scaling back Banerjee's security.
What Triggered the Row
On Wednesday, Kolkata Police replaced the two PSOs who had been assigned to Mamata Banerjee since she first assumed the office of Chief Minister in 2011. Replacement personnel arrived at her Kalighat Road residence. However, Banerjee and her associates reportedly refused to allow the new PSOs entry, after which the three TMC parliamentarians took to their respective social media accounts to allege that her security had been withdrawn.
Adhikari's Rebuttal
Chief Minister Adhikari addressed the media and offered a point-by-point rebuttal. He stated that Banerjee continues to receive 'Z+' security — the same category and the same number of personnel as before — and that no reduction had taken place. He drew a parallel with the highest offices in the country, noting that even the security personnel of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are not permanent fixtures. “My PSOs are also not permanent. She is seeking PSOs of her own choice. One cannot get their favourite person in any government system of functioning,” Adhikari said.
TMC Legislators Plead for Reinstatement
Earlier on Thursday, six Trinamool Congress legislators — all part of the faction maintaining allegiance to Banerjee and her nephew, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee — met the Chief Minister. The group urged that the long-serving PSOs be reinstated to Banerjee's security detail. According to a source familiar with the discussions, Adhikari categorically declined, reiterating that personnel assignments are a government prerogative and not subject to individual preference.
Background and Political Context
The episode reflects the continuing friction between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government and the TMC since Adhikari's victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Security arrangements for prominent opposition leaders have become a recurring flashpoint in the state. Notably, the Kolkata Police had separately denied the TMC's allegations earlier on Thursday, before the Chief Minister issued his own statement — an unusual sequence that underscores the sensitivity of the matter.
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Banerjee will formally accept the newly assigned PSOs or escalate the matter through legal or political channels. The TMC has not yet indicated whether it will approach the courts over the security reshuffle. With the opposition closely watching every move of the Adhikari government, the standoff over Banerjee's security detail is unlikely to fade quickly.
Point of View
He has neutralised the optics without escalating. The real question mainstream coverage is missing: why did Banerjee's camp refuse entry to the replacement officers rather than contest the decision through official channels? That refusal, not the reshuffle itself, is what converted an administrative matter into a political headline. If the TMC pursues this in court, it risks legitimising the government's position that security assignments are a sovereign function — a precedent it may not want set.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Mamata Banerjee's security been withdrawn by the West Bengal government?
No. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has stated that Mamata Banerjee continues to receive 'Z+' security with the same number of personnel as before. The government replaced two long-serving PSOs with new officers — a routine administrative action, according to Adhikari.
Why did Mamata Banerjee refuse the new PSOs?
Banerjee and her associates reportedly did not allow the replacement PSOs to enter her Kalighat Road residence. No official reason was given by her camp; TMC parliamentarians instead alleged on social media that the government was curtailing her security.
What did TMC MPs say about the security row?
Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Sagarika Ghose, and Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra, posted on their respective social media accounts alleging that the West Bengal government had withdrawn Mamata Banerjee's security arrangements. The government and Kolkata Police both denied the allegation.
What did the six TMC legislators ask CM Adhikari?
Six Trinamool Congress legislators aligned with Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met CM Adhikari on Thursday and urged him to reinstate the original PSOs. Adhikari declined, reiterating that security personnel assignments are a government prerogative.
Can any VIP in India choose their own personal security officers?
No. As CM Adhikari explained, even the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister do not have permanent PSOs of their own choosing. Security personnel assignments across all categories are determined by the government, not the protectee.
