5 min readKolkataSep 2, 2025 11:11 AM IST
First published on: Sep 2, 2025 at 11:11 AM IST
While the focus has been on Bihar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, ripples are being felt in neighbouring West Bengal too. Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee has been highly critical of the Election Commission’s (EC) drive, with panic setting in across the state’s Murshidabad and Malda districts, dominated by the Muslim community, to secure certificates for the roll revision.
Former Baharampur MP and ex-Congress Bengal party chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury talks to The Indian Express about the SIR, the migrant worker plank of the TMC, and the crucial 2026 Assembly elections. Excerpts:
* The TMC has made the harassment of Bengali migrant workers one of its core issues. How do you see this?
The Union Home Ministry is spearheading a campaign against “foreigners” and this includes Bangladeshis as well. This has sent a message to the state administrations that all foreigners, especially Bangladeshis, have to be detained and deported. The administration has cracked a whip on the downtrodden and vulnerable, who were compelled to migrate to survive. Thousands of Bengali migrant workers have been working in West Asian countries, especially Arab countries … In the past, I have given assistance to migrants stuck in other countries … Migrant workers help Bengal and its debt-ridden economy.
* Do you think the Mamata Banerjee-led administration is dealing with the migrant labour issue adequately?
The state government is not dealing with the issue well. It is very distressing. They (the TMC leadership) are keeping the issue alive till the elections. I have some — but significant — experience during my time as MP in dealing with these issues. Bengali migrant workers are subject to police harassment and torture. Even detention. The state government is keen on keeping these issues alive… They want to create fear.
* Mamata Banerjee recently said the SIR, which is expected to take place in Bengal soon, will leave out genuine voters. Recently, there was a standoff between the EC and the state over the suspension of officials. How do you view this?
This is Mamata Banerjee’s ploy to confuse the common people. (Leader of Opposition) Rahul (Gandhi) ji was trying to make an argument on vote theft with solid proof and other documents. The EC dismissed this, but the issue has become a point of discussion for common people.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee tried to threaten the EC only to confuse her electorate. Especially the Muslim electorate. She has also been saying that the EC will bring in the NRC (National Register of Citizens) as well. She wants to create fear in the minds of the Muslim population. This fear and uncertainty is making the Muslim community feel like Mamata Banerjee is their only saviour. All the measures being prescribed by the EC will be implemented here (in Bengal). Everything (the protests and stringent opposition to the EC) is to play to the gallery and nothing else.
* Do you think the TMC’s stress on ‘Bengali pride’ as a counterpoint to the BJP and its politics will have any resonance?
She (Mamata Banerjee) has got the hint that ordinary Bengalis are being tortured or harassed. So, she is taking advantage of the situation. Till the (Bengal) elections (which are due in 2026) are held, Banerjee will not allow the issue to die down. She will not address the core problems of our society in terms of health, education, and employment.
This issue (of migrant worker harassment) has been offered on a golden platter to Mamata Banerjee by the BJP-led government. They are trying to polarise voters for their own benefit. Mamata will seize this issue, but the BJP will be the ultimate beneficiary. The BJP has been bulldozing the rights of Muslims and other communities.
* The TMC and Congress are coming together in Parliament on issues such as the SIR. What does this mean for Bengal, where the two parties are rivals?
The TMC knows where to play a saint and where to play the devil. They play saint in Delhi and devil in Bengal. Come every election in Bengal — be it municipal, panchayat, even a college election — they loot and plunder. It is a camouflage. They pretend like they are innocent, stand for democracy and care for voters’ issues with roll revision.
They are not backing the Congress. If they were actually serious (about Opposition’s issues), why didn’t (Mamata) Banerjee or her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) not join the rally called by Opposition parties in Patna? I know them (TMC leaders). They are our known devil.
These issues do not bother Mamata Banerjee. Even after taking a stance against the EC and SIR, the TMC will indulge in all kinds of malpractices in the Bengal elections. We (the Congress) cannot resist that until and unless there is a ground-level organisation.
Former West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accuses CM Mamata Banerjee of wanting to "create fear in the minds of the Muslim population" so that they feel she is "their only saviour". (Facebook) 
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