Bengal Elections 2026: SIR-Panic And Citizenship-Anxiety Unsettle Matua Community In Thakurnagar
Falling under the Gaighata assembly constituency, Thakurnagar, home to a large number of people from the Matua community, is the epicentre of Matua politics in the state. As the founding family of the sect, the Thakurs, navigate in-family conflicts and shifting allegiance, people from the community await answers after thousands find their names removed from voter rolls after SIR.
Anita's name, like many others, was struck off the rolls despite furnishing all documents she had. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Numerous deleted voters of Karola village in Gaighata are anxious of what follows after the elections. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
A deleted Matua voter at Karola, Thakurnagar. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Numerous CAA helpdesks and offices have been set up around the Thakur Bari area in Thakurnagar. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
The names of all four members of Gouranga Pandey's family have been removed after the adjudication process. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Life goes on, in anxiety and hope, at Thakurnagar's Karola. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Life goes on, in anxiety and hope, for Matua voters in Thakurnagar. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
A temple dedicated to founder of the Matua sect Harichand Thakur and his wife, Shanti Maata. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Shops around Thakur Bari sell frames and figurines of prominent Matua reformers and leaders. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Once considered avarna (untouchables), Matuas have been a key support base for BJP in the state over the past decade. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Thakur Bari area, the spiritual centre of the Matua community, in Thakurnagar. | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
Sitting BJP MLA from Gaighata and a member of the Thakur family, Subrata Thakur | Photo: Sandipan Chatterjee
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