Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a campaign rally in Jamalpur, Purba Bardhaman district, on Saturday, assuring the Matua and Namasudra communities that they would receive citizenship once the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms the government in West Bengal.

Shah emphasized that these communities are central to the BJP's support base and disputed claims made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has warned that voting for the BJP could jeopardize their voting rights. Describing these assertions as unfounded, Shah said the BJP remains committed to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which Banerjee has opposed in the state.

“Mamata Didi did not allow the implementation of the CAA law and all Matua community’s citizenship will be taken care of once we come to power,” Shah stated during his speech, underscoring the party’s promise to address citizenship issues affecting these groups.

In addition to addressing citizenship concerns, Shah claimed that the BJP is poised to secure a significant victory in the upcoming phase of the West Bengal elections, projecting that the party would win 110 seats in the first phase of polling.

He also criticized what he described as disruptions orchestrated by supporters of the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), warning that those involved in attempts to interfere with the electoral process would face legal consequences. “If the hooligans do not mend their ways, their place will be behind bars,” he cautioned, framing it as a warning rather than a threat.

Shah’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal as parties intensify efforts to consolidate support ahead of the assembly elections. The BJP’s outreach to the Matua and Namasudra communities, influential voter blocs in the region, is seen as a strategic move to challenge the Trinamool Congress’s dominant position in the state. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee’s camp has reiterated concerns about the BJP’s stance on citizenship laws, maintaining that her party seeks to protect the interests of vulnerable groups in the state.