The Centre has provided Y category security to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar after a review of her threat profile, sources said, adding the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the CISF security cover to the Lok Sabha MP from Barasat.

The development comes amid significant changes in the party’s parliamentary leadership, with party supremo Mamata Banerjee replacing her with Kalyan Banerjee as the TMC chief whip for the Lok Sabha after the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.

Following the change, Dastidar took to her social media to post about her political journey and commitment to the party. “Knew them since ‘76, rewarded for four decades of loyalty,” she wrote in Bengali on her Facebook page.

Dastidar was made the chief whip for the party in Lok Sabha after Banerjee had a tiff with Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra in August last year.

Y category security is a protective cover granted to individuals facing a moderate level of threat. The category provides a security cover with about eight to 11 personnel, which typically includes one to two commandos, along with armed police officers and personal security officers.

Notably, the development comes at a time when security cover of TMC MPs, including Abhishek Banerjee has been reduced.

A four-time MP, Dastidar has courted several controversies during the Narada sting operation case and the Park Street rape case.

During her political career, Dastidar has played a key role in the party organisation and has been one of the oldest confidantes of Banerjee.