Bengal Polls | Row erupts over BJP’s Dipanjan Chakraborty’s NSG claim, service record questioned

Kolkata: A fresh controversy has erupted after BJP’s Uttarpara candidate Dipanjan Chakraborty campaigned in a black outfit bearing “NSG,” prompting sections of society to question whether he had ever served in the force, as he claims, or it is a “complete bluff”.

While filing his nomination, Chakraborty did not mention any service in the NSG or RAW in his affidavit. However, in public appearances and media interactions, he has consistently described himself as a retired NSG commando and a former RAW official. In the affidavit, he identified himself only as a retired Central government employee.

However, Chakraborty claimed that his parent department was the ITBP, from where he had moved to NSG.

He also claimed that he mentioned everything in his affidavit to the EC. He claimed he was on deputation in NSG from 1992 to 1999-2000. He then moved to another department on deputation, and then moved to RAW on deputation.

A counter affidavit filed by one Subhadip Mukherjee noted that a minimum of an undergraduate degree is typically required, whereas Chakraborty marked “no” under educational qualifications in his affidavit. It also pointed out that there is no direct recruitment to the NSG, as personnel are inducted on deputation from the Indian Army and Central Armed Police Forces. In this context, his declaration of being a retired Central government employee in the affidavit appears to contradict his public claims of being a retired NSG commando.

Mukherjee urged the returning officer to cancel Chakraborty’s Form 26 affidavit, alleging concealment of facts and irregularities.

TMC candidate from Uttarpara, Shirsanya Banerjee, had earlier raised concerns about whether national security force attire could be used for election campaigning even if he is a retired NSG commando.

Banerjee alleged that by invoking the NSG’s name, Chakraborty was reinforcing their charge that the BJP uses Central Agencies—earlier the ED, CBI, Income Tax and the EC, and now, even the NSG.

Chakraborty, however, hit back at Banerjee, saying he is a lawyer and free to take legal action, to which he would respond. Speaking to the media, he claimed that he had served in the NSG for 11 years and asserted that Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, along with leaders like Madan Mitra and Atin Ghosh, were well aware of whether he had been part of the force.

A news portal referring to a telephonic conversation reported that a woman had accused Chakraborty of sending indecent proposals to her. It was alleged that till a few days ago, he used to attack the BJP, and now he is contesting an election on the BJP’s ticket.