TMC’s Rohingya Agenda: Vote-Bank Politics Over National Security

Paromita Das
New Delhi, 18th July: Bharat’s political stage is no stranger to dramatic standoffs, but the recent uproar around Rohingya infiltration has exposed deep cracks in the nation’s internal security framework—and its political conscience. What makes the Rohingyas, a stateless ethnic minority from Myanmar, so crucial to Bharatiya politicians, especially the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee?

The answer lies not in humanitarianism but in pure electoral arithmetic.

Rohingyas, though not citizens, have found refuge—and in some cases, political patronage—in states like West Bengal. With a soft border and a thriving underground documentation racket, many have managed to obtain voter IDs, ration cards, and even Aadhaar numbers. These identity lifelines convert them into a political goldmine for parties eager to swell their voter base. In tightly contested states like Bengal, every vote counts—and if that vote comes with the added loyalty of survival politics, even better.

The Genesis of Appeasement Politics

The roots of this appeasement can be traced back over a decade. Mamata Banerjee’s TMC has long positioned itself as a protector of “Bengali identity,” but this definition has conveniently blurred the lines between Bharatiya citizens and illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

In 2012, she infamously dismissed infiltration concerns, calling illegal Bangladeshi immigrants “guests.” This tone-deaf stance emboldened not just border crossing, but a narrative where questioning illegal presence was equated with attacking Bengali culture.

Successive central government reports and intelligence briefings have pointed to rising Rohingya settlements in Bengal. But every time an alarm was raised, the TMC government responded with denial or diversion, often questioning the data or accusing the Centre of playing communal politics.

Kolkata’s Protest March: Real Concern or Political Smokescreen?

Mamata Banerjee’s recent protest march through central Kolkata wasn’t just about Bengali-speaking workers being harassed—it was a calculated political move. By defending detainees allegedly linked to Rohingya networks, she strategically positioned herself as the savior of the “persecuted Bengali” while camouflaging the deeper issue: illegal infiltration.

Her challenge—“Prove they are Rohingyas”—misses the larger point. No one is against Bengalis, but illegal settlers hiding behind that identity pose a national threat. The timing of the march, a day before Prime Minister Modi’s Bengal visit, makes it clear: this was less about justice and more about optics.

A Nationwide Crackdown and the Rising Stakes

Unlike TMC’s street theatre, the BJP-led central government has responded with concrete action. From Telangana to Maharashtra, and from Delhi to Odisha, illegal Rohingya clusters have been identified and dismantled. In Bhubaneswar, a long-standing Rohingya settlement was cleared with court backing. In Jammu, Delhi, and Hyderabad, security agencies have flagged increased extremist linkages.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s declaration in Parliament—“Every illegal migrant will be identified and removed”—is not just policy, it’s a message. A message that Bharat will no longer tolerate identity fraud as a means of political survival.

The Real Cost of Appeasement

Shielding illegal migrants under the pretense of linguistic identity is not just dishonest—it’s dangerous. It corrodes the very structure of our democracy by allowing non-citizens to influence electoral outcomes. TMC’s repeated opposition to the NRC and CAA isn’t about justice; it’s about keeping the voter base artificially inflated.

This isn’t just a Bengal issue. It’s a national problem. The politics of appeasement has allowed illegal networks to grow, weaken law enforcement, and fuel communal tensions.

The Ballot or the Border—Time to Choose

West Bengal stands at a crossroads. It can either allow the politics of vote-bank appeasement to define its future or choose national interest, law, and order. Mamata Banerjee’s theatrics may rouse crowds, but they betray a fundamental truth: no political gain is worth compromising a nation’s sovereignty.

In the long run, only one strategy will ensure Bengal’s—and Bharat’s—stability: securing our borders and purging our electoral rolls of illegal influences. The country deserves leadership rooted in integrity, not in street dramas.