Authorities scaled down security outside the residences and offices of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday morning, just two days after the Trinamool Congress lost power in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Police trim arrangements across key locations

Police reduced deployment at three key locations—188A Harish Chatterjee, 121 Kalighat Road, and 9 Camac Street—from 6:30 am. An officer confirmed that authorities had already started removing some high-security installations a day earlier.

“Police arrangements outside three premises – 188A Harish Chatterjee, 121 Kalighat Road and 9 Camac Street – have been scaled down from 6:30am on Wednesday. Some of the security arrangements like scissor barricades were replaced by manual guardrails on Tuesday,” said a police officer aware of the developments.

The Harish Chatterjee address serves as Mamata Banerjee’s residence, while Kalighat Road houses the party headquarters. Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee operates from his office on Camac Street.

Only Z+ security cover remains

Officials clarified that only the standard Z+ category security will continue for the leaders. Authorities withdrew additional personnel who had been deployed beyond this level during the TMC’s tenure in power.

“Only the Z+ security arrangement will remain. The extra police personnel, who were deployed beyond the Z+ category security, were withdrawn,” said an IPS officer.

The Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (HQ) issued an internal order on Tuesday directing the reduction in security arrangements.

High-tech barricades removed

As part of the scaling down, police removed advanced security infrastructure from sensitive zones. For instance, they dismantled scissor barricades installed nearly 200 metres ahead of Mamata Banerjee’s residence in the Kalighat area. These machine-operated barricades, commonly used in high-risk zones, were replaced with simpler manual guardrails.

BJP’s decisive victory changes power dynamics

The move follows a major political shift after the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a decisive victory in the 294-seat assembly. The BJP won 207 seats, while the TMC managed only 80. The Election Commission of India has ordered repolling in one constituency.

Advocate General resigns

In another key development, state Advocate General Kishore Datta submitted his resignation to R. N. Ravi following the change in government. “I have sent my resignation to the Governor on Tuesday,” Datta said.

He had been serving in the role since December 2023 and had previously held the position between 2017 and 2021.

Transition underway after regime change

Overall, the reduction in security and key resignations signal an administrative transition after the end of the TMC’s 15-year rule in West Bengal.