Mamata Banerjee paid her tribute to Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua community. Over Twitter, CM Banerjee stated that a holiday was declared in the honour of Sri Harichand Thakur in the state.

This year’s assembly election  in West Bengal is a high-pitched battle between TMC, which is looking forward to a third term, and the BJP seeking to make inroads into the state polity. BJP is looking forward to using the influence of Matuas over some assembly seats. Likewise is the case of TMC.

Also Read: Saket Gokhale filed a Representation affidavit to prevent BJP from using Orakandi trip for Bengal election

Matuas, with their origins in Bangladesh are a community that belongs to the Scheduled caste category of Namashudra community and have an influence over 30 seats in the West Bengal assembly.

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

Orakandi town in the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh is the birthplace of 19th-century reformist-Harichand Thakur, who was born in a peasant family in 1812. He had gained following in the undivided Bengal and had formed/written edicts for salvation for the Matua community. There is a 12-points edict-collection about the community salvation which was written by Thakur. His edicts included education and strong organization as the means of empowerment of the community. Thakur had written a second couplet which mentioned about ending discrimination and the importance of brotherhood.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

The birthplace of Harichand Thakur, Orakandi was recently visited by Modi, in ostensible participation for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh, but with a suspected intention of influencing the Matua community.

Election in West Bengal, in which Matuas may play a crucial role in swinging votes, is scheduled to be held in 8 phases from March 27 to April, 29. The first-three of the total eight phases of West Bengal’s assembly elections are over and the electorate in 91 constituencies have already cast their votes. A total of 44 seats will go to polls on April 10 for the fourth phase. The vote counting will take place on May, 02.