West Bengal Erupts: TMC Alleges Vendetta Over Mamata Banerjee's Security Revamp

Afresh political storm has engulfed West Bengal after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched scathing accusations of 'political vendetta' against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government. The allegations stem from the abrupt withdrawal of five personal security officers (PSOs) who had been safeguarding former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for nearly two decades. The incident unfolded late on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Banerjee's Kalighat residence in Kolkata, creating an immediate security vacuum.

According to TMC leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, the removal of these trusted security personnel was not merely an administrative action but a 'calculated move to isolate and endanger' Banerjee. O'Brien dramatically parked his car to block the entrance of Banerjee's residence in protest, highlighting what he perceived as a complete lack of official security. Moitra further criticised the government on X, stating, 'This is how Mamata Banerjee, a three-term CM and seven term MP is being humiliated and put at risk by shameless vengeful BJP government.' She drew a stark comparison with the security provided to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, questioning the disparity.

The TMC underscored that Banerjee, a Z-plus category protectee, remained without official security deployment for several hours after declining the newly dispatched Kolkata Police detail. Sources close to the former Chief Minister indicated that she refused to accept the new officers as replacements, prompting the TMC to deploy its own private security guards to ensure her protection. It was also reported that Banerjee had insisted on retaining two specific officers of her choice, a request that state police insiders deemed contrary to government rules which do not permit appointments based on personal preference.

Conversely, the West Bengal government, under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has vehemently denied the TMC's accusations, dismissing them as unfounded. State officials clarified that Banerjee continues to receive her full protocol-mandated Z-plus category protection, asserting that there has been no reduction in her overall security cover. They maintained that the personnel changes were part of a 'routine administrative reshuffle' or 'rotational method' of security deployment, aimed at adhering to standard duty rosters and security protocols for VVIPs, and to prevent the leakage of sensitive security-related information. Chief Minister Adhikari had reportedly instructed top police officials to ensure that Banerjee's security was not reduced.

The withdrawn guards were identified as former Railway Protection Force personnel who had been absorbed into the state police and had been part of Banerjee's close protection detail since her tenure as Union Railway Minister. Administrative sources indicated that these officers were directed to return to their parent units, and the Kolkata Police had subsequently dispatched three replacement guards.

This incident is not an isolated one in the highly charged political landscape of West Bengal, which has long been characterised by intense rivalry between the TMC and the BJP. The TMC has frequently accused the BJP of employing 'vendetta politics' and misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders. Previous instances include police searches at the residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and raids on I-PAC offices, both of which were denounced by the TMC as politically motivated. The timing of such actions, often coinciding with electoral events or heightened political tensions, further fuels the narrative of institutional bias and targeted harassment. As of Thursday, June 18, 2026, the West Bengal Home Department, the Directorate of Security, and the West Bengal Police had not released a formal statement or official justification for the specific security reassignment, leaving the political discourse to be dominated by competing claims and counter-claims.