As West Bengal prepares for a regime change in the aftermath of the BJP's sweep across the state, DGP Siddh Nath Gupta on Wednesday made an important statement on outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee's security.
Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata, DGP Gupta explained that the Z+ category security that had been provided to ex-CM Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee had been modified.
However, he pointed out that it was only the extra security detail—beyond the Z+ security—that had been redeployed to maintain law and order in the state.
"So, in a nutshell, there has been no withdrawal of any security. Security is as per protocol as given in the Yellow Book," he said in the press conference.
This comes after the BJP's 207-seat win in the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal led to some violence in certain parts of the state. There is also repolling pending for one constituency—Falta—which will take place on May 21, after which those results will be declared on May 24.
DGP Gupta's update on Mamata Banerjee's security also comes amid the outgoing CM's refusal to resign from her post due to her rejection of the poll outcome.
He also added that more than 200 FIRs had been filed in connection with post-poll violence.
"433 people have been arrested in specific cases. More than 1100 people have been arrested under preventive sections. As a result, no untoward incident has taken place since this morning," DGP Gupta explained.
Banerjee has since alleged that the TMC was the moral victor in the situation, and that the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) had "looted" votes to win.
"I will not resign. I did not lose. I will not go to Raj Bhavan ... the question doesn't arise. We didn't lose the election. They can defeat us officially through the Election Commission, but morally we won the election," she had said at a Tuesday press conference, sparking reactions from leaders across the board.
However, the saffron party has already made plans for its new CM's oath-taking ceremony.
“The Prime Minister has already announced the day, Pochishe Boisakh, May 9. It is the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. It will be held on that day. It was our old commitment that we would run the government from the Writers’ Buildings,” West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said.