Panic, anger ripple across Matua belt as SIR deletions reopen citizenship faultlines before Bengal polls

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has sparked panic and anger in West Bengal's Matua heartland, a significant Hindu refugee community. The exercise, which reopened old wounds over identity and documentation, has resulted in the deletion of thousands of names, particularly in Matua-majority seats across Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts. The BJP faces criticism for its handling of the situation, with some voters expressing anxieties about their citizenship status. TMC MP Mamatabala Thakur accuses the BJP of targeting Matuas who emigrated after 2002 and lacking documents. The deletions have created a political faultline in the region, where both parties are scrambling to manage voter anxiety.