Heading towards landslide historic victory, BJP serves West Bengal with 'Maach bhaat' and 'Jhal Muri'; know what this food politics is
Fish-Rice (Maach-Baat) lunch at the BJP HQs in Kolkata. Unintentional trolling of the TMC underway.
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The BJP party leaders in West Bengal served 'jhal muri' and 'mach bhaat' (fish and rice) to the state residents heading towards a landslide historic victory. National General Secretary, BJP, Tarun Chugh, shared a video online in which he himself could be seen serving people with jhal muri.
Politics by TMC was also played over PM Modi's viral video in which he could be seen eating 'jhal muri' from a local shop in West Bengal during the campaign. Mamata Banerjee accused Modi of 'staging' his much-publicised jhal muri stop in Jhargram, claiming the snack was prepared at home, and the shopkeeper was handed just ₹10.
“They had fitted TV cameras and CCTV cameras earlier for security. They had prepared jhal muri from home for security concerns and gave ₹10 to the shopkeeper. In fact, I don’t carry any notes,” she said. She also drew a comparison with the Prime Minister’s earlier political branding. “First, they showed a ‘chai-wala’, and now they are showing jhal muri to win the election. They said they will eat jhal muri if they win, but I say I will give you bhelpuri from Delhi,” Banerjee said.
ALSO READ: India walking towards Congress Mukt Bharat; Gandhi's party secures zero seats, also leads in just 2 of 7 bypolls
“I eat your dhokla, I eat dosa, I eat litti, I eat thekua, I eat sattu. I eat vermicelli during Eid, and I eat halwa. Don’t teach me religion,” she said. She also questioned the BJP’s confidence ahead of the May 4 counting date. “Have they fixed the Electronic Voting Machines? Otherwise, how can they be so confident about the election?” Banerjee was quoted as saying.
Early counting trends show the BJP surging ahead with leads in over 197 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark. The party also posted strong performances in constituencies like Asansol Dakshin and Asansol Uttar, triggering mixed reactions across social media. West Bengal has long witnessed incidents of poll-related violence, and in light of similar disturbances reported from other areas, security has been tightened across the state.
In another similar video shared by journalist Adity Raj Kaul, the BJP workers could be seen serving 'Maach bhaat' to the state residents in Kolkata. The BJP workers set up a stall in front of the BJP headquarters in Kolkata, as seen in the video, and celebrated the party's lead in the state.
West Bengal's fish politics is very interesting. TMC leader Mamata Banerjee had earlier claimed that the BJP, if voted to power in the state, would “stop the consumption of fish and eggs.”
देशभक्ति की झालमुड़ी
— Tarun Chugh (@tarunchughbjp) May 4, 2026
📍BJP HQ, New Delhi pic.twitter.com/QFHCrMzG9w
Following this, during the campaigns on April 21, BJP's Anurag Thakur had also eaten fish curry and rice in Kolkata.
“We are eating meat, fish, and rice,” Thakur had told reporters. He had stated that the BJP has its government in 16 states, and the NDA in 20 states. “There is no restriction anywhere on anyone's language, food, and worship." Thakur further had exposed the West Bengal chief minister for “spreading fear and rumours.”
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, "We are eating meat, fish and rice. BJP has its government in 16 states, NDA has its government in 20 states, and there is no restriction anywhere on anyone's speech, food, or worship... But Mamata Banerjee has no… pic.twitter.com/osZNgKOZyN
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah too had then spelled out his party's stance, saying the TMC was “spreading rumours” and that “consumption of fish, eggs will not be stopped” if the BJP is elected to power in West Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a public rally in Haldia, had further made a pitch promising to make the state sufficient in fisheries and the seafood sector.
Politics by TMC was also played over PM Modi's viral video in which he could be seen eating 'jhal muri' from a local shop in West Bengal during the campaign. Mamata Banerjee accused Modi of 'staging' his much-publicised jhal muri stop in Jhargram, claiming the snack was prepared at home, and the shopkeeper was handed just ₹10.
“They had fitted TV cameras and CCTV cameras earlier for security. They had prepared jhal muri from home for security concerns and gave ₹10 to the shopkeeper. In fact, I don’t carry any notes,” she said. She also drew a comparison with the Prime Minister’s earlier political branding. “First, they showed a ‘chai-wala’, and now they are showing jhal muri to win the election. They said they will eat jhal muri if they win, but I say I will give you bhelpuri from Delhi,” Banerjee said.
ALSO READ: India walking towards Congress Mukt Bharat; Gandhi's party secures zero seats, also leads in just 2 of 7 bypolls
“I eat your dhokla, I eat dosa, I eat litti, I eat thekua, I eat sattu. I eat vermicelli during Eid, and I eat halwa. Don’t teach me religion,” she said. She also questioned the BJP’s confidence ahead of the May 4 counting date. “Have they fixed the Electronic Voting Machines? Otherwise, how can they be so confident about the election?” Banerjee was quoted as saying.
Early counting trends show the BJP surging ahead with leads in over 197 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark. The party also posted strong performances in constituencies like Asansol Dakshin and Asansol Uttar, triggering mixed reactions across social media. West Bengal has long witnessed incidents of poll-related violence, and in light of similar disturbances reported from other areas, security has been tightened across the state.