State animal resources minister Swapan Debnath today took Dr Sharmila Sarkar, the Trinamul Congress candidate for East Burdwan to the Matuas stronghold and offered puja at the Matua community temple of Harichand Thakur, the founder of the sect.
East Burdwan constituency comprises Kalna, Katwa sub-divisions, also accommodates blocks like Raina, Jamalpur and Purbasthali inhabited by a considerable chunk of voters from the Matua community. In recent times, nearly a hundred Matua families of the constituency received letters deactivating Aadhaar cards pertaining to this had termed the families as immigrants residing in India even though their visa period had expired.