KOLKATA: On Tuesday, The West Bengal government has announced a state funeral and 21-gun salute for Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, who died at the state-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata. Binapani Devi, popularly known as 'Boro ma', died following a multi-organ failure at the age of 100.
According to doctors, she died around 8.52 PM on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had condoled her death. PM Modi tweeted "Last month, I had the honour of seeking the blessings of Boro Ma Binapani Thakur at Thakurnagar. I will always cherish the interaction I had with her. We stand in solidarity with the Matua community in this hour of sadness,"
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Mamata said in a tweet ''I am deeply pained at passing away of Matua matriarch Boro Ma Binapani Thakur. My condolences to her family & my brothers & sisters of Matua Community at this moment of grief. It was a great opportunity for me to meet Boro Ma last November, on the centenary of her birthday,''. Matua votes were considered a major factor in the Trinamool Congress's win in the 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls. Mamata Bala Thakur, a member of Boro Ma's family, is a Trinamool Congress parliamentarian.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Boro Ma this February during his visit to Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district where he addressed a rally. Thakurnagar is the headquarters of the Matua Mahasangh, the organisation of the the community. With an estimated population of 30 lakh in the state, Matuas can influence results in at least five Lok Sabha seats in North and South 24 Parganas districts.
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