Ahead of the crucial by election in the Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas, CPI (M) West Bengal Secretary Biman Basu accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP of creating a rift in the Matua Mahasangh community for political benefits.
The community, a Hindu sub-sect consisting of backward communities in the traditional Hindu varna system was founded in the mid-19th centaury by Harichand Thakur at Gopalganj in the Faridpur province of present day Bangladesh. It is a socio-religious sect that has considerable presence in the constituency.
The Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency along with the Krishnaganj Assembly constituency in Nadia district will go to polls on February 13.
‘A crime’
“The Left parties never indulged in politics about the Matua Mahasangh,” Mr. Basu told journalists here on Saturday. Referring to the fact that both the parties had fielded candidates from the Matua community, Mr. Basu said that “Trinamool and BJP have committed a crime by dividing the Matua Mahasangh that has for long worked for social reform.”
After the death of TMC MP of Bangaon Kapil Krishna Thakur, the party fielded his wife Mamatabala Thakur as its candidate in the by-election.
The BJP fielded Subrata Thakur, son of Manjula Krishna Thakur — a former TMC Minister who recently joined theBJP.
