West Bengal elections: As Matua belt heads to polls, BJP netas work overtime to contain deletion damage

BONGAON: Unease around SIR and deletion of names is palpable across the Matua belt, but so is BJP's efforts to limit its impact.

With SIR in Bengal leading to deletion of around 90 lakh names in the state, the Matua belt has been one of the hardest-hit. BJP, which holds considerable sway in the belt, is now working overtime to hold on to voters' trust, assuring those excluded that their names would soon be restored to electoral rolls under CAA. Trying to contain the damage, BJP netas are visiting homes, explaining the SIR process and even arranging calls to persuade voters to not lose hope.

Matua voters, many of whom have lived in India for decades, say they are still battling the "outsider" label. While BJP netas allege that TMC has frightened people, stopping them from applying under CAA, many on the ground say the problem is more basic: people here do not possess Bangladeshi papers and cannot prove they were persecuted minorities.

Thousands have applied for citizenship certificates under CAA. But much to local BJP netas' agony, only a small percentage has received them. "We have long been promised citizenship. But what has been done," asks retired teacher Jaydeb Majhi.

Even in Gaighata's Chikanpara where Matua spiritual centre Thakurbari — residence of junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur, his brother Subrata Thakur, and TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur — is located, 66 out of 751 names have been deleted. A major chunk is formed of women who shifted to the locality after marriage. Thakurbari, in fact, houses two candidates of Bagdah: Trinamool's Madhuparna Thakur and BJP's Soma Thakur — Shantanu's wife and Madhuparna's sister-in-law.

Putul Thakur has stayed in the area for 30 years. Yet, on April 29, four of her family members will get to vote while she stays as home. "After having to go for SIR hearings thrice, I told a BJP neta here that none of my family members will vote for any party. My name was deleted, no reason was given," she told TOI. When asked if her family will retain its loyalty towards BJP, she said, "Vote is an individual choice. We want the country to make progress. Roads should be improved, safety for women should be the focus. I was angry... but now that anger has subdued. BJP netas have promised our names will be included."

Radhakanto Halder, however, is not willing to forgive so easily. Six members of the 70-year-old dalapati's family passed the SIR test but he failed despite submitting a land deed from 1966. "It's very disappointing," he told TOI.

BJP netas are blaming BLOs for the alleged mass deletions. Soma Thakur claimed as many as 50,247 deletions had taken place because state govt-provided BLOs had uploaded wrong documents to target BJP-supporting households.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur — Madhuparna's mother — rejects BJP's charge, saying Matua voters had been given false hope by Shantanu and his brother Subrata Thakur. "BLOs did their work and it was the Election Commission's responsibility to prevent wrongful deletions. SIR was conducted by the EC, not the state govt," the TMC MP said.


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