West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday intensified her attack on the BJP over the issues of NRC and citizenship, alleging a conspiracy to strip marginalised communities of their rights ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Addressing a rally in Dinhata, Mamata claimed that communities such as the Matuas and Rajbanshis were being misled and targeted. She alleged that attempts were being made to extract written declarations from Matua community members stating that they had migrated from Bangladesh in 2025.

“Do you know? They were making the Matuas sign written declarations stating that they had arrived from Bangladesh in 2025. I intervened and stopped them,” she said.

‘Conspiracy to disenfranchise voters’

The Chief Minister termed the alleged exercise a “conspiracy to disenfranchise voters,” accusing the Centre of using the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC as tools to remove voting rights.

“Thousands of Matua votes have been deleted. As for the Rajbanshis, there is simply no count of how many votes have been removed,” Mamata claimed.
She further alleged that NRC notices had been sent to several households with the intent of rendering people “homeless and uprooted.”

Sharp retort to Amit Shah’s remarks

Mamata also took aim at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his recent remarks regarding “infiltrators.” Referring to his statement that those without voting rights would be expelled, she said, “It sounds like feudalism—the feudal privilege to incite riots.”

Without naming him directly at times, she asserted that no one would be driven out of Bengal and that citizens would continue to live with dignity in the state.

Advice to voters and warning to communities

The Chief Minister urged those whose names have been removed from voter lists to file appeals with tribunals and maintain proper documentation.
“If not today, then tomorrow, your names will be reinstated,” she said.

She also cautioned the Matua community against signing documents during form-filling exercises, alleging that such processes were being used to extract confessions that could later jeopardize their citizenship status.

Political significance in border regions

Political observers believe Mamata’s focus on NRC and Partition-related anxieties is aimed at consolidating support among Matua and Rajbanshi voters in border districts like Cooch Behar and across North Bengal. By countering the BJP’s narrative and attacking what she described as an “expulsion” mindset, Mamata positioned herself as a protector of marginalised communities ahead of the crucial state elections.

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