Wed Dec 24 15:49:16 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

Political Tensions Flare in West Bengal as Matua Community Clashes Over Electoral Roll Deletions

KOLKATA, INDIA – December 24, 2025 – A political row has erupted in West Bengal, triggering clashes between supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Matua heartland of Thakurnagar, North 24 Parganas. The unrest stems from controversial remarks made by BJP MP and Matua leader Shantanu Thakur regarding the deletion of an estimated one lakh names from the Matua community during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Thakur suggested at a BJP event that the community should “tolerate” the removal of their names if it meant the removal of a larger number of alleged “infiltrators” – a claim the TMC vehemently denies. These remarks ignited outrage within the Matua community, particularly among those feeling disenfranchised by the SIR process.

The Matua community, a sect of Namashudra Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh, has historically been a key support base for the BJP. The party has previously assured the community of citizenship through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). However, recent events, including the Supreme Court’s observation that granting CAA rights depends on verification of persecution claims, have fueled uncertainty and distrust.

The TMC has seized upon the situation, accusing Thakur of prioritizing the removal of alleged infiltrators over the rights of his own community. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, a prominent Matua leader, stated that community members were protesting the BJP’s previous claims that CAA applications and Hindu identity cards would protect their voting rights.

Data from the draft electoral roll published on December 16 reveals that constituencies with a significant Matua population recorded a higher percentage of voters whose link to the 2002 voter list could not be established, potentially requiring them to undergo mandatory hearings.

The political fallout from this controversy is expected to intensify as the 2026 elections approach, with both the BJP and TMC vying for the support of the crucial Matua vote bank.

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