The Bengali snack ‘jhalmuri’ is being seen as an unexpected symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections. As counting trends showed the BJP taking a victory, party leaders across states began celebrating with the spicy snack, linking it to their victory mood in Bengal.
How it all started
The story of jhalmuri entering politics began during the final phase of campaigning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a brief roadside stop in Jhargram, West Bengal, where he was seen enjoying the popular local snack.
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The incident also triggered political reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it a staged act by the BJP, questioning its intent during campaigning. However, the snack soon took on a larger meaning in the political narrative.
The word “jhalmuri” comes from the Bengali word “jhal,” meaning spicy or hot. During the campaign, it slowly became a symbol of the intense political battle in the state. PM Modi later added his own political twist at a rally, saying, “I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal (spice),” indirectly targeting the ruling party in Bengal.
Netizens and leaders turn jhalmuri into victory celebration
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi shared pictures of himself eating jhalmuri and said that after the Bengal victory, jalebi was not needed, only jhalmuri would do.
He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the win reflected his leadership and the hard work of Home Minister Amit Shah. He also praised NDA workers in Bengal for their efforts during the election campaign.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her cabinet colleagues marked the moment by sharing jhalmuri and rasgulla at the Delhi Secretariat. She posted on X that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, states across the country were turning saffron.
Across India, BJP workers came out onto the streets waving flags and sharing jhalmuri as election trends continued to favour the party.
The snack, once a simple street food, had now become a playful symbol of celebration, political momentum, and campaign emotion tied to Bengal’s election outcome.
