• Source:JND
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Bengal Polls: The voting for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly election is being conducted on Wednesday amid the tight security arrangements. All the leading parties, during their campaigns, tried to lure in the votes of the Matua community, as it might play a key role, especially in the border districts. While the community faced a higher deletion rate in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, it still has its influence in the districts like North 24 Parganas and Nadia.

How Significant Is the Matua Community?

- Its population is expected to be around 17 to 18 per cent of the total population of the state

- The community has its base mostly in the border districts of Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, and Cooch Behar

- The Matua community plays a decisive role in around 70 of the total 294 constituencies

- The community can decide the results in 21 constituencies in the second phase, largely dominated by the TMC

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BJP's Rising Popularity

- Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP registered victory on 18 Lok Sabha seats, with a significant improvement in the regions dominated by the Matua community, including Bongaon and Ranaghat

- It continued its performance in the 2021 assembly polls when the saffron party won 9 of the 21 seats where the Matua community has a larger presence

- While its seats reduced in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP still got a significant share of the community's vote

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However, the TMC has accused the Election Commission of deleting the voters of the Matua community in the border districts. Apart from this, the ruling party has also launched several beneficiary schemes, giving it a boost, especially among the people with lower income groups. The results of the West Bengal assembly election, along with four other states, will be declared on May 4.


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