The shopkeeper in Jhargram, West Bengal, who served ‘jhalmuri’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state campaign last month, mentioned that the snack has now become well-known nationwide following the PM’s visit. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has embraced ‘jhalmuri’ as a symbol of celebration after PM Modi’s spotlight on the snack, with election trends indicating a significant lead for the party.
Vikram Shaw, the shop owner, expressed his delight at the BJP’s strong position and the widespread recognition of the Bengali snack. Shaw stated, “Not only has my shop gained fame, but ‘jhalmuri’ has also garnered recognition across India.” The snack, named after the Bengali word “jhal” meaning spicy or hot, became symbolic during the campaign, representing both the political intensity and regional identity.
During an election rally, PM Modi added a political twist by mentioning, “I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal (spice),” in response to criticism from Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. As the vote count progressed, the BJP maintained a significant lead, with Election Commission of India trends at 6:40 p.m. showing the party victorious in 55 seats and leading in 149 others.
Celebrations erupted in West Bengal as trends suggested a BJP government, with party workers distributing ‘jhalmuri’ and ‘kamala bhog’ and dancing to popular Bengali tunes. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi shared images of himself enjoying ‘jhalmuri,’ stating, “On the victory in West Bengal, jalebi won’t do — just Jhalmuri will suffice. Today is the day for Jhalmuri, I’m eating it with gusto, so if anyone feels the ‘jhal’ (spice), please don’t take it amiss.”
In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her Cabinet colleagues celebrated by sharing ‘jhalmuri’ and rasgulla at the Delhi Secretariat. Gupta conveyed, “Under the leadership of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, every state in the country is turning saffron. With Assam’s hat-trick victory, the BJP government has also come to power in Bengal. Heartiest congratulations on the resounding victory! ‘Celebrating the win, with ‘jhalmuri’ and ‘rasgulla’.”
