Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Why a divided Matua community risks losing political clout in Bengal

A file photo of BJP MP Shantanu Thakur.

The Matua-majority Thakurnagar area in West Bengal witnessed tense moments as supporters of BJP MP Shantanu Thakur and Trinamul Congress (TMC) MP Mamata Bala Thakur confronted each other over the control of a house previously inhabited by community matriarch Binapani Devi, known as 'Boroma', until her passing five years ago.

As per the TMC's account, the incident occurred on April 7 night when Shantanu Thakur, accompanied by his supporters, purportedly attempted to take control of the house, which is currently occupied by Mamata Bala.

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Shantanu Thakur is the grandson of Binapani Devi, while Mamata Bala Thakur is her daughter-in-law. Thakurnagar is located in the North 24 Parganas district. The BJP MP, however, asserted that despite being one of the rightful claimants to the property, "Mamata Bala Thakur has unlawfully occupied the entire premises and has even converted a section of it into a TMC party office."

Mamata Bala, a former Lok Sabha MP and currently a Rajya Sabha member, dismissed the allegations and responded by filing a police complaint regarding the incident. She confirmed that she had filed a complaint at Gaighata Police Station in response to an attempted break-in at her residence by Shantanu Thakur and his associates.

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In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shantanu Thakur emerged victorious, defeating his closest rival, Mamata Bala, who is also a prominent leader of the Matua community. The election was notably contested on the backdrop of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) issues, which served as key campaign themes.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar questioned why Mamata Bala had the right to stay in the house but not Shantanu Thakur. He highlighted that there are two branches within the family, suggesting the possibility of a family feud. According to him, Mamata Bala is forcibly attempting to assert her rights, while emphasising that Shantanu Thakur also has the full right to stay in the house.

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After the death of Binapani Devi in March 2019, the widow of Pramatha Ranjan Thakur, who was the great-grandson of Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur, a power struggle within the Thakur family, which had begun years prior, intensified.

Reports suggest that the Matua community wields substantial electoral influence, estimated at around 1.75 crore individuals, particularly in key Lok Sabha constituencies such as Bangaon, Barasat, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, and Cooch Behar. Over the years, political parties including the TMC, BJP, and previously the Left Front, have actively sought their support. Shantanu Thakur's father, Manjul Krishna Thakur, served as a minister in the first TMC government. Additionally, his elder brother, Kapil Krishna Thakur, secured victory in the Bangaon parliamentary seat during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as a TMC candidate.

In 2014, following the sudden demise of Kapil Krishna, a family rift emerged between his wife Mamata Bala and Manjul over the TMC ticket for the Bongaon by-election. While Manjul wanted his youngest son Subrata to get the nomination, Mamata Bala ultimately secured the TMC ticket, deepening the division within the Thakur family. As a result, Manjul and Subrata shifted their allegiance to the BJP. Despite Mamata Bala's victory in the bypoll, Subrata finished in third place. Although Manjul Krishna later reconciled with the TMC, his upward trajectory within the party remained limited.

The Centre's announcement of the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has garnered strong support from the Matua community in West Bengal. The Matuas, classified as a Scheduled Caste (SC), who migrated to West Bengal from neighbouring Bangladesh. They have been advocating for the implementation of the CAA, which aims to grant Indian citizenship to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities.

The potential implementation of the CAA carries significant implications for the upcoming elections, particularly in West Bengal, where the Matuas constitute the second-largest SC population. However, the community is currently divided over the CAA, with differing opinions and perspectives among its members.