Matua leaders upset with Bengal BJP, Shantanu Thakur, others seek more representation

The Union Minister, who quit party’s Whatsapp groups, says ‘I am getting this feeling that those who are at the helm of affairs of the West Bengal BJP do not require me or the support of the Matua community’.

From the individual defections after the 2021 Assembly election debacle, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the start of 2022 is grappling with the discontent of leaders from the Matua community. Earlier this week, Union Minister and Bangoan MP Shantanu Thakur quit a number of Whatsapp groups of the State BJP, triggering speculation of a rift.

“I am getting this feeling that those who are at the helm of affairs of the West Bengal BJP do not require me or the support of the Matua community,” Mr. Thakur said. The leaders of the community, including Mr. Thakur who heads the Matua Mahasangha, have been demanding representation of leaders from the community in the committees of the State BJP.

After taking over as the State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar set up new committees at the State level and district level. On Tuesday, four MLAs from the Matua community from North 24 Parganas and Nadia held a meeting at the Bongaon residence of Mr. Thakur.