In a development that has intensified political tensions in West Bengal's Bongaon, a BJP legislator was compelled to appear before officials for a hearing regarding his voter registration, causing significant embarrassment for his own party. The incident occurred against a backdrop of widespread anxiety in the Matua community over potential deletions from the electoral rolls.
MLA Forced to Defend His Citizenship Status
Swapan Majumdar, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Member of the Legislative Assembly from Bongaon Dakshin, presented himself at a Summary Revision (SIR) hearing held at a madrasa in Bongaon on Saturday morning. He submitted necessary documents, including his birth certificate, passport, and his father's death certificate, to substantiate his claim.
According to sources, the hearing was necessitated because Majumdar's name, along with those of his parents, was absent from the 2002 electoral roll. After the proceeding, the MLA explained to the press that he was born in India and turned 18 in 1999. He stated that he had moved to Mumbai for work and returned in 2012, after which his name was enrolled in the voters' list. His father passed away in 1999, accounting for the absence of his name.
"I could have linked my documents with my maternal uncle's address, but I chose not to," Majumdar claimed. "Instead, I am trying to encourage others to follow the proper process."
Political Firestorm Erupts Amid Matua Community Anxiety
The event instantly ignited a fresh political controversy. The ruling Trinamool Congress seized the opportunity to launch a sharp attack on the BJP. Biswajit Das, the Bongaon organisational district TMC President, stated, "The very party to which he belongs is conspiring to delete the names of Matua refugees from the voters' list. Now Swapan Babu should understand which party he represents."
In a pointed remark, Das added, "If his name is deleted, we will stand by him. The Chief Minister has said no one will be driven out."
Majumdar swiftly retaliated, criticising the TMC and asserting, "The ground is slipping from under Trinamool's feet. They know their defeat in 2026 is inevitable."
Wider Crisis Looms for Nearly One Lakh Matua Refugees
This individual case highlights a much larger, simmering crisis. Administrative sources indicate that nearly 1 lakh Matua refugees across four Assembly segments under the Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency have been asked to appear for similar SIR hearings.
The anxiety is particularly acute in the Matua-dominated areas of Bongaon. A significant point of contention is that many from the community, despite applying for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) through BJP-backed camps, are yet to receive their certificates. This delay has left them vulnerable during the voter list revision process, creating a situation that has placed the BJP leadership in a difficult position.
The party, which has heavily courted the Matua vote bank by promising citizenship through the CAA, now faces accusations from rivals and anxiety from supporters as its own MLA's credentials come under official scrutiny.
