The Center granted ‘Y+’ VIP safety coverage to veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty who recently joined the BJP, according to official sources on Wednesday.

The security cover will be issued by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which has a separate security division dedicated to this mission (SSG). On Sunday, “Chakraborty has been given a ‘Y+’ cover and will be followed by armed CISF commandos during the West Bengal election campaign,” a senior officer said.

A threats perception report prepared by central security agencies recently recommended to the home ministry that the national award-winning actor be provided with security protection.

At Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Sunday, the 70-year-old actor joined the BJP.

BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state president Dilip Ghosh, among others, were among those who invited Chakraborty into the fold.

After being presented with the saffron party flag by Ghosh, the National Award-winning actor said that he has always wanted to work for the underprivileged and that the saffron camp has provided him with the opportunity to do so.

Chakraborty also said that joining the Trinamool Congress, which elected him to the Rajya Sabha in 2014, was a mistake.

Between March 27 and April 29, elections for the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases. A popular and well-known face Mithun Chakraborty joining the BJP at such a crucial time just before the election can really prove to beneficial for Bhartiya Janta Party. The Party will try to capitalize this move as much as it can. Hence, Mithun is being granted Special treatment and Security coverage after joing the Party earlier this week.  

Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP from Jharkhand, will be given a similar shield, which will include 4-5 mounted commandos defending him. The CISF now covers a total of 104 VIPs, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and RSS president Mohan Bhagwat, thanks to these new inductions.