West Bengal elections: PM Modi promises citizenship to Matua Namasudras under CAA

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday promised the Matua Namasudra community that they will pass Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).“I assure the Matua Namasudra community members that they will receive citizenship through CAA,” Prime Minister Modi Speaking at a poll rally in Gaon, BengalIn West Bengal, which is about to go to polls, the North 24 Parganas and Nadia belts dominated by Matua will enter the second phase of voting on April 29, but the situation is extremely complicated. A large portion of the electorate is unsure whether they will be able to vote.The uncertainty stems from the Special Intensification Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, which resulted in significant deletions in Matua-majority constituencies. In North 24 Parganas state alone, about 325,000 names were removed from the electoral rolls after the exercise. Data from the Bongaon subdivision in Matua’s core region shows expungement rates for those who were adjudicated range from 67 to 88 percent. In Qaghata, 16,222 out of 22,278 marked voters were removed, while Baghdad recorded more than 15,000 voters removed. Similar situations were reported in northern and southern Banggaon.In Nadia constituencies such as Krishna Nagar North, Krishna Nagar South and Ranagah, more than 90 per cent of those examined failed to make it to the final polls. Administrative estimates indicate that a large proportion of the affected people belong to the Matua Namasudra community.Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at Thakurbari, the main temple of Matuama Hassangarh in Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal before holding a poll rally in the area.His visit to the community headquarters, home to the shrines of the sect’s founders Hari Chand and Guru Chand Thakur, was seen as an outreach to Matua voters, who directly influence at least 34 parliamentary seats, and another 20 across the border in Bangladesh.Their support played a crucial role in the BJP’s strong performance in the 2021 assembly elections.Founded by Hari Chand Thakur in the 19th century, Matua Mahasangha is a socio-religious movement that has historically sought to uplift the Namasudra community through education and social reforms.Modi visited the Thakur Nagar Shrine in 2019 and Orakandi, Bangladesh in 2021.