Rahmaan accused the Election Commission of selectively targeting West Bengal under the guise of voter verification. “If this is about identifying Bangladeshis or Rohingyas, why not conduct the same process in Assam, Meghalaya, or Tripura? Why only Bengal?” he asked. The TMC leader alleged that the drive was politically motivated and aimed at intimidating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee.
Warning of large-scale protests if genuine voters are deleted from the rolls, Rahmaan said, “Strike off one legitimate voter and you’ll see one lakh people outside the Election Commission in Delhi.” He compared the situation to Bihar’s voter list controversy, claiming that “negligence and intimidation” were being repeated in Bengal.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by the All India Matua Mahasangha entered its fourth day at Thakurnagarthe spiritual seat of the Matua community. Three protesters reportedly collapsed due to dehydration but refused to end their fast. Organisational secretary Narottam Biswas said all participants were registered voters. “They are fasting for the people, not politics,” he stated.
The protest is being held in front of Boro Ma Binapani Devi’s residence, a site of deep cultural significance. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamatabala Thakur accused BJP leaders Shantanu Thakur and Subrata Thakur of “exploiting the faith and pain of Matuas” for political gain, further intensifying the standoff over the voter verification exercise.
