The Politics of Matua Votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls: A Complex Web of Citizenship, Polarization, Deification, and Factionalism

The Matuas of Bengal are back in the national spotlight due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and their significance as a vote bank. The politics around their votes is complex, involving issues of citizenship, communal polarization, political deification of Matua icons, and factionalism within the Thakur family. The citizenship question remains unresolved, with confusion and fear among the community about the application process and potential disenfranchisement. Communal polarization has also been used to mobilize Matua votes, with the BJP strategically categorizing migrants as either infiltrators or refugees based on their religious identities. Political leaders are also strategically deifying Matua icons like Harichand and Guruchand Thakur, using their names, images, and teachings for electoral success. Finally, factionalism within the Thakur family, the heirs of Harichand, is transforming Matua politics, with the BJP and TMC factions using them to reach out to voters.

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