Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a significant political rally in Taherpur, located in Nadia district's Ranaghat, this Saturday. This event marks his first major public meeting in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, and it takes place against a backdrop of rising concerns over a large 'unmapped' population within the Matua community's heartland.
Addressing the 'Unmapped' Voter Concern
The rally gains critical importance due to the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts. During this exercise, a staggering around 4,50,000 people were found to be 'unmapped' across 17 assembly constituencies. The Matua community, which claims nearly 3 crore members and holds significant electoral sway, has been apprehensive about potential exclusions from the voters' list.
In his address, scheduled for 12 noon at Taherpur, PM Modi is expected to directly speak to the worries of nearly 1.5 crore Matua voters in the state. The community's anxiety is particularly high in areas like the seven assembly segments under Union Minister Shantanu Thakur's Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency, where nearly 2,00,000 voters were 'unmapped'.
Infrastructure Push and Political Landscape
Prior to his speech, the Prime Minister, who is scheduled to arrive at 11.15 am, will lay the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects. He will also inaugurate national highway projects at Ranaghat. These two NH projects, valued at approximately Rs 3,200 crore, are designed to serve as a vital connecting link between Kolkata and Siliguri, promising enhanced connectivity for the region.
The political context is complex. While the BJP won five of the seven seats in Shantanu Thakur's constituency in the 2021 assembly polls and retained Bongaon in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the vote share saw a marginal decline. Furthermore, specific constituencies highlight the challenge. In Gaighata, where Shantanu's brother Subrata Thakur won in 2021, almost 38,490 voters were 'unmapped'. In Bagdah, which Trinamool Congress's Madhuparna Thakur won in a 2024 by-poll, nearly 36,567 voters were not mapped in the draft rolls.
Assurances and Electoral Calculus
Reacting to the concerns, Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya offered reassurances. He stated, "None of the Hindu refugees' names will be deleted from the voters' list. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act is the outcome of BJP's promise to Matua and refugees. We are urging the refugees to immediately submit their applications under CAA."
This rally is strategically crucial as the Trinamool Congress has seen a growth in its support base within the Matua heartland over the past six years. The issue of not being mapped on electoral rolls has genuinely unsettled a large section of the community, making PM Modi's direct address a key moment for the BJP to consolidate its position among this pivotal voter bloc ahead of the state polls.
