PM Modi Offers Prayers At Main Shrine Of Matuas In Bengal Ahead Of Polls | Why It Matters?

Last Updated:April 26, 2026, 17:09 IST

PM Modi had previously visited Thakurnagar in 2019 and paid homage at Orakandi in Bangladesh in 2021, reflecting the continued political attention on the community.

West Bengal Assembly Polls: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at Thakurbari, the main temple of the Matua Mahasangha at Thakurnagar in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district ahead of addressing a poll-bound rally in Bangaon.

The shrine, which houses the legacy of sect founders Hari Chand Thakur and Guru Chand Thakur, serves as the spiritual and organisational centre of the Matua Mahasangha—a 19th-century socio-religious movement rooted in the upliftment of the Namasudra community through education and social reform.

“Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society," PM Modi said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister’s visit underscores the Bharatiya Janata Party’s renewed outreach to the influential Matua community ahead of the upcoming phase of Assembly elections. Their backing had played a crucial role in the BJP’s strong showing in the 2021 Assembly polls.

PM Modi had previously visited Thakurnagar in 2019 and paid homage at Orakandi in Bangladesh in 2021, reflecting the continued political attention on the community.

“…Today, when I came here, many memories were refreshed. Four to five years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Orakandi across the border. Meeting the Matua community there and connecting with their faith and traditions was an extraordinary experience. It was the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister. I also had the opportunity to offer prayers at the temple there…" he said while addressing the rally.

The Matuas are a decisive electoral bloc in West Bengal, directly influencing at least 34 Assembly constituencies and impacting another two dozen seats along the India-Bangladesh border. Their support played a key role in the BJP’s strong performance in the 2021 Assembly elections, making them central to the party’s strategy in the poll-bound state.

Addressing a rally in Bangaon later, the Prime Minister Modi reiterated a key promise tied to the community’s long-standing demand for citizenship, pledging that eligible Matua Namasudra members would receive citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The issue remains politically sensitive, as a large section of the community comprises migrants from Bangladesh.

However, the electoral landscape in Matua-dominated regions of North 24 Parganas and Nadia has been complicated by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The exercise led to significant deletions, with around 3.25 lakh names struck off in North 24 Parganas alone. In several constituencies such as Gaighata and Bagdah, deletion rates among flagged voters ranged between 67% and 88%.

A similar pattern emerged in parts of Nadia, including Krishnanagar North, Krishnanagar South, and the Ranaghat segments, where over 90% of scrutinised names were excluded from final rolls.

(With inputs from agencies)

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