Centre withdraws security cover for 32 Bengal BJP leaders including John Barla

The central government has withdrawn security cover for 32 BJP leaders in West Bengal, including former MPs and district presidents. The reason behind this decision remains unclear, but the revelation of the list has surprised many, as some of the leaders who had security cover were relatively unknown and held little importance in the party. This decision has sparked discussions and speculation within the Bengal BJP.

With the assembly elections approaching next year, the withdrawal of central security from these 32 leaders has raised concerns. The list includes former MP John Barla and state committee member Shankudev Panda, along with several former and current district presidents and some candidates from the last Lok Sabha elections. Sources suggest that the BJP central leadership is unhappy with the internal conflicts within the Bengal BJP and is closely monitoring the party’s organizational performance in the state.

Reports indicate that the BJP's organizational strength in Bengal is not meeting expectations in Delhi. It is believed that this is one of the reasons why the Union Home Ministry has decided to withdraw security for leaders with minimal significance in the party. The list includes Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Arun Haldar, and former BJP MP from Alipurduar, John Barla, who has recently been vocal against the party. Security has also been withdrawn from Shankudev Panda, a leader known for his association with Swapan Dasgupta, but who played no major role in the party’s organizational structure.

Additionally, Tanmoy Ghosh, the BJP district president of North Kolkata, has lost his central security cover. Other prominent names on the list include Abhijit Das (Bobby), former BJP district president of South 24 Parganas, and Arjun Biswas, the current BJP president of Nadia district. BJP’s former Lok Sabha candidates from Uluberia and Arambagh, Arunoday Palchowdhury and Arupkanti Digar, respectively, have also lost their security cover.

The list further includes former MP Dashrath Tirkey, former MLA Deepak Haldar, BJP legal cell leader Loknath Chattopadhyay, Birbhum BJP leader Sannyasicharan Mondal, Cooch Behar leader Abhijit Barman, and former IPS officer Debashis Dhar. The mass withdrawal of security has led to concerns within the party ranks as leaders question the implications of this decision.

Reacting to the security withdrawal, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, a BJP general secretary, stated that he learned about it from the media and emphasized that security-related decisions are solely under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry. Meanwhile, some Bengal BJP leaders have claimed that the Home Ministry periodically reviews security arrangements and that this decision is a part of such an evaluation. Notably, many of those who lost their security cover are currently inactive within the party and hold no significant organizational role.