Mamata Banerjee Urges Migrant Workers to Vote Amid Citizenship Concerns
News Mania / Agnibeena Ghosh/20 April 2024
Mamata Banerjee, vehemently opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and expressing concerns over the potential ramifications of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), has urged migrant workers in West Bengal to cast their votes in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a public rally in Murshidabad, the Chief Minister of West Bengal warned that the BJP-led government would strip away their Aadhar cards and citizenship if they returned to power at the Centre.
In her impassioned plea, Banerjee implored migrant workers, who had returned to their home state for Eid celebrations, not to depart without exercising their right to vote. She cautioned that failure to vote could result in dire consequences, including the loss of essential identification documents and citizenship status. “I would like to request all the migrant workers who have come here to celebrate Eid please don’t go back without voting because if you don’t vote in the coming days, they will take away your Aadhar card and your citizenship,” she emphasized.
Banerjee’s apprehensions regarding the CAA and UCC stem from her staunch opposition to these legislative measures. She adamantly declared her resistance to the implementation of the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal, citing the adverse effects witnessed in Assam, where numerous deaths occurred during its enforcement. Additionally, Banerjee expressed alarm over the inclusion of the UCC in the BJP’s election manifesto, cautioning that its implementation could result in the erosion of individuals’ identities.
The timing of Banerjee’s plea coincided with the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in three constituencies in West Bengal – Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri (SC), and Alipurduars (ST) – held on April 19. These constituencies, previously won by the BJP in the 2019 general elections, remained key battlegrounds in the ongoing electoral contest.
In the 2021 assembly polls, Coochbehar and Alipurduars continued to be bastions for the BJP, with the party securing victories in the majority of segments within these constituencies. Conversely, in Jalpaiguri, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) maintained its dominance, clinching victories in the majority of segments against the BJP.Banerjee’s call to action underscores the pivotal role of migrant workers in shaping the electoral landscape of West Bengal, particularly in constituencies where their votes could sway the outcome.
