With the post-poll situation continuing to simmer in Bengal the Centre has decided to provide security cover to all the 77 the BJP MLAs of the State. The security cover will be provided by the jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force, sources said.

The decision to provide central security cover to the BJP MLAs comes in the backdrop of preliminary report submitted by a team of Union Home Ministry officials, visiting Bengal to inquire into the reports of post poll violence. Similar reports have been obtained from the other central agencies reporting on Bengal, sources said adding most of the Legislators would be provided, ‘X’ ‘Y’ and ‘’Z’ category security.

According to sources the ‘X’ category security would be provided to 61 MLAs while the remaining others would be covered by ‘Y’ category security. Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari and former Railway Minister Mukul Roy who are already under central security covered would continue to get ‘Z’ category security, sources said.

When asked to comment on the decision taken by the Central Government a Bengal Minister said, “there is always a provision to provide security to the MLAs but if they decide to protect their own MLAs what can we say … that is their decision … but before taking such decisions they should remember that law and order is a State subject.”

Incidentally Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had opted for a security cover provided by the Railway Protection Force when she first assumed power in Bengal in 2011.