The political atmosphere in West Bengal took a sharp turn on Sunday as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the Prime Minister of disrupting the travel plans of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for the sake of a "snack break". According to the TMC, Soren and his wife, MLA Kalpana Soren, were effectively grounded for hours and ultimately forced to abandon their scheduled programme in Jhargram because their helicopter was denied permission to land while PM Narendra Modi was present in the area.
The controversy stems from an unscheduled stop the Prime Minister made at a local roadside stall to sample jhalmuri, a popular Bengali snack. While the Prime Minister’s social media channels were filled with footage of him chatting with vendors and paying a ten-rupee note for his treat amidst chants of "Jai Shri Ram", the TMC painted a far more cynical picture. They alleged that the "Pradhan Sevak" prioritised an extended photo-op and a light meal over the democratic duties of two elected Adivasi leaders, claiming that the delay was a direct snub to those who refuse to "bend the knee" to the central government.
The TMC was quick to label the Prime Minister's actions as an exposure of an "Adivasi-Birodhi" or anti-tribal mindset, suggesting that while he sought to court the tribal vote in Jhargram, his administration’s logistical decisions showed a lack of respect for Jharkhand’s leadership. "Bengal saw it," the party warned in a post on X, "and Bengal will remember it on May ."
For his part, the Prime Minister remained focused on his rhetoric against the ruling state government during his rallies. He characterised the Trinamool Congress as a party looking to form a government "of and for infiltrators", framing the election as a battle to preserve Bengal’s cultural identity. However, with the state heading to the polls on April 23 and April 29, this row over diverted flight paths and street food has added a fresh layer of personal friction to an already heated contest. As the results loom on May 4, both sides are clearly intent on using every local interaction — and every logistical hiccup — to sway the narrative in their favour.
Also read: PM’s surprise halt at Jhargram snack stall
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