What began as a roadside stop for a plate of jhalmuri has snowballed into a fresh political flashpoint in West Bengal’s high-voltage Assembly election campaign, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee trading barbs over the episode.
Addressing a public rally in Krishnanagar on Thursday, Modi referred to his recent unscheduled stop at a jhalmuri stall in Jhargram and said the snack had “shaken” the ruling party.
“By the way, I have heard that jhalmuri has also given some people a strong jolt. Jhal muri maine khaayi lekin jhal TMC ko lagi hai,” the Prime Minister said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The Prime Minister added that he was confident of a BJP victory in the state and said celebrations would follow on May 4, the day results are declared. “On May 4, there will be celebrations of BJP’s victory in Bengal. Sweets will be distributed and jhalmuri will also be shared,” he said.
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The jibe comes days after Modi’s roadside stop in Jhargram, where he interacted with a snack vendor and ate jhalmuri, a popular Bengali street food. The visuals quickly went viral and triggered a political controversy, with the ruling Trinamool Congress alleging that the entire episode was staged.
Reacting to the incident earlier, Mamata Banerjee had questioned its authenticity, suggesting it was pre-planned. “How come cameras were present when he made the unscheduled stop? The entire episode was scripted,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress has repeatedly claimed that the visit was choreographed, pointing to the presence of media and security arrangements. Banerjee also alleged that the act was turned into a publicity exercise during the ongoing polls.
Escalating her attack at rallies, Banerjee said she had no objection to anyone eating local food but accused the BJP of politicising everyday culture. “We never dictate anybody’s dietary habits,” she said, adding that she would send traditional sweets such as tiler naru and khirer naru to BJP leaders if her party came to power again.
Modi, meanwhile, used the moment to criticise the TMC, suggesting that even a simple snack had unsettled the ruling party. He also appealed for higher voter turnout, noting what he described as a relatively peaceful polling environment in the state.
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