Patna, July 29: The Union home ministry today accorded "Y" category security cover to dissident RJD MP Pappu Yadav, triggering a debate on whether the extra cover hinges on threat perception or political convenience.

Pappu was given the security cover soon after he met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi and apprised him of the alleged poor law and order situation of the state. In view of the threat perception to Rajesh Ranjan, better known as Pappu Yadav, from political rivals, criminals and CPI(Maoist), and also in view of the upcoming Assembly Elections in Bihar, the state government may categorise him as a "Y" (threat) category "protectee" and provide him full component of "Y" category security, stated a letter issued by the Union home ministry to the chief secretary of Bihar.

Pappu, the dissident RJD MP, is believed to have the potential to make a dent in the vote bank of the RJD-JDU alliance at least in the Kosi region dominated by Yadavs, giving an edge to the BJP and its allies. Political observers claimed that the NDA-ruled central government accorded the extra cover to him taking this factor into count.

Pappu has had a controversial past. He was the main accused in the murder of CPM MLA Ajit Sarkar in 1998 and spent a considerable time in jail before Patna High Court acquitted him last year. He was a terror in Purnea and Madhepura in the 1990s. Yet, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP boss Ram Vilas Paswan fielded him as a candidate in elections.

"Against this backdrop, according Pappu 'Y' category security cover would naturally trigger murmurs," said a senior politician.

Earlier, the Union home ministry had accorded "Z" category security cover to former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. His Hindustan Awam Morcha (Secular) would be a key ally of the BJP in the Assembly polls. The security cover given to Manjhi is on a par with the one given to RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Dissident JDU MLA Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, who vociferously criticises Nitish Kumar, enjoys the same security cover.

People under "Z+" security cover get 36 personnel to guard them. The "Z" category entails security cover of 22 personnel and the "Y" category of 11 personnel.