Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given a big and clear message regarding the Matua community before the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He has said that there is no need for the people of Matua community to fear, BJP is standing with them and their citizenship, identity and rights will not be affected. This statement is being considered an important turning point in the politics of Bengal.
Amit Shah’s open guarantee to Matua community
Amit Shah said in clear words that the Matua families living in Bengal are completely safe and they do not need to have any kind of fear. He said that both the policy and intentions of BJP are very clear. The refugees who came to Bengal years ago are and will remain citizens of this country. The confusion that is being spread regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act and special revision of the voter list is completely baseless.
History and struggle of Matua community
The story of Matua community is not just about politics, but also about social struggle and self-respect. After 1947, a large number of people of Matua community came to India from East Pakistan. For decades they were marginalized by calling them refugees. Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur showed the path of self-respect to the Dalit and deprived society through the Matua movement. BJP claims that for the first time it has worked to give national identity and respect to this society.
What is the Matua population in Bengal?
From a political perspective, the Matua community plays a decisive role in North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia and border districts. According to estimates, the population of Matua community in Bengal is considered to be between 50 to 60 lakhs. According to the 2011 census, the Namasudra community numbered around 35 lakh, which includes a large part of the Matua community. Experts believe that this society alone can decide the fate of several dozen assembly seats.
Changing vote pattern and political mathematics
Before 2011, the Matua vote was with the Left parties. Later this inclination went towards Trinamool Congress. In 2019 and 2021, BJP directly interfered by linking the citizenship issue to Matua identity, which led to division of votes. However, the news of deletion of names from the voter list also created dissatisfaction, which posed a challenge of trust for BJP.
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Efforts to return trust before 2026
Amit Shah’s statement is being considered an attempt to strengthen this trust again. BJP wants to give the message that Matua community is neither infiltrators nor second class citizens. The party stands firm on its promise of providing them respect, security and permanent identity. Before the 2026 elections, this Matua card can have a big impact in the politics of Bengal.
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