Kolkata, Jun 18 (PTI) In a politically significant outreach, six TMC legislators known for their loyalty to party supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and sought the restoration of her previous security personnel while flagging alleged harassment of party workers and hawker evictions.
The meeting, held in the chief minister’s chamber on the assembly premises shortly after Governor R N Ravi’s address to the House, was attended by TMC legislators Kunal Ghosh, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Madan Mitra, Ashok Deb, Rahim Boxi and Rukbanur Rahman.
The interaction assumed significance amid the continuing churn within the opposition TMC following its defeat in the assembly elections and growing complaints from the party over arrests and action against several of its leaders and functionaries.
According to sources, the legislators urged Adhikari to reconsider the recent reshuffle of security personnel attached to Banerjee, claiming that some long-serving members of her security team had been replaced.
The issue had triggered sharp reactions in the TMC camp after party leaders alleged that personnel familiar with the former chief minister’s routine had been withdrawn.
Responding to the request, Adhikari maintained that there had been no reduction in Banerjee’s security cover.
The former chief minister continues to enjoy the same Z-plus security. Not a single security personnel has been withdrawn from the sanctioned strength, sources quoted CM as telling the delegation.
The chief minister, however, made it clear that government security arrangements could not be tailored to individual preferences.
“Even the prime minister’s and home minister’s security personnel are not permanent. My own PSOs are not permanent. Government security deployment cannot be based on personal choice,” he reportedly said.
Sources said the meeting also touched upon the arrest of former Kolkata Municipal Corporation mayoral council member Swapan Samaddar and action against several TMC leaders in different districts.
Kunal Ghosh conveyed to the chief minister that many grassroots workers were allegedly facing police action and what the party viewed as politically motivated cases, though he maintained that genuine offenders should face the law.
The delegation also raised concerns over recent anti-encroachment drives and sought adequate rehabilitation and time for hawkers before any eviction exercise is carried out.
The issue has acquired political salience after Banerjee recently took to the streets in support of hawkers affected by demolition and eviction drives launched by the BJP government.
Besides these matters, the two sides discussed certain procedural and legislative issues related to the functioning of the opposition in the assembly, sources said.
Emerging from the meeting, senior TMC legislator Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said the party had sought clarity on issues relating to seating arrangements, office space and opportunities for legislators to participate in debates.
“As elected representatives, we have to speak on behalf of our constituents and fulfil our responsibilities inside the House,” he said.
Ghosh described the interaction as constructive and said several specific issues concerning public interest and legislative functioning had been discussed. PTI PNT ACD
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