NEW DELHI: Sharpening the BJP's outreach to the Matua community in the final stretch of his West Bengal election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Matua Thakur Temple in North 24 Parganas. At a subsequent public meeting, he reiterated his government's resolve to fast-track Indian citizenship for members of the community.
Modi's Message of Association
In a message emphasizing his connection with the sect, which was founded in Orakandi (now in Bangladesh) and holds influence in over 32 assembly seats—most of which go to the polls in the second phase on April 29—Modi posted a picture of his 2019 meeting with the community's matriarch, Binapani Thakur.
Matua Support Critical for BJP
The Matua community's hearty endorsement of the BJP was critical to the party's impressive performance in the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and its emergence as the main challenger to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2021 assembly polls. However, support has cooled off somewhat since then, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intensified efforts to woo community members and the much-vaunted Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has not proven as smooth in granting citizenship to non-Muslim refugees as initially anticipated.
TMC's Allegations and Counter-Strategies
The TMC has long alleged that the CAA will harm Matuas by entangling them in a web of documents tracing their origin to Bangladesh, even though most already enjoy several rights in India. The party has cultivated its own leadership drawn from the community to erode the BJP's support base.
Focused Outreach by BJP
In these polls, the BJP leadership has made a focused outreach to the community, capped by Modi's visit to the temple and a meeting in its stronghold. Modi, who also visited Orakandi in 2021, is generally held in high regard by community members.
During his rally on Sunday, Modi urged Matuas and other Hindu refugees from Bangladesh not to heed TMC's claims. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP campaigners have been emphatic in underlining the party's commitment to the community's welfare.
