Modi, Mamata In A Matua Matrix

- Probir Pramanik

It was a surging sea of heads from atop, pushing forward and crouching low in the downwash from the helicopter hovering over them. “Taratari koro, Modi eshe gechhe (Move fast, Modi’s here).” the crowd goes out of control—everyone in the tens of thousands gathered on a dusty ground and outside in thakurnagar wants to see and hear Narendra Modi from close. And why not? they can’t recall when a prime minister came to address the Matuas before— though they are a tight-knit Hindu scheduled-caste community of more than 4.7 million and their votes can sway the outcome in about 74 assembly and seven parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal.