A seemingly spontaneous street-food break by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in West Bengal’s Jhargram has sparked a fresh political row, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dismissing the episode as a carefully scripted “drama” orchestrated for the cameras. On April 19, after addressing back-to-back election rallies in Purulia, Jhargram, Medinipur, and Bishnupur ahead of the two-phase West Bengal Assembly polls, Modi made an unscheduled halt at a modest jhalmuri stall in Jhargram. Jhalmuri, the popular Bengali puffed-rice snack mixed with spices, green chillies, onions, and mustard oil, is a staple street food across the state.
According to video footage shared by the Prime Minister on X (formerly Twitter), Modi approached vendor Vikram Kumar Sahoo’s stall and said in Hindi, “Bhai, hume apna jhalmuri khilao” (Brother, give us your jhalmuri). He casually asked about the price, interacted with the vendor and locals - including women and children gathered around—and paid with a Rs 10 note pulled from his Nehru jacket pocket. When the vendor inquired if he ate onions, Modi replied light-heartedly, “Haan, pyaaz khaate hain. Dimag nahi khaate bas” (Yes, I eat onions. But I don’t like irritating people). The moment quickly went viral, with Modi’s reel crossing 100 million views.
The Prime Minister later posted about the break on social media, describing it as a refreshing pause during a packed day of campaigning: “In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious Jhalmuri in Jhargram.” Following that Mamata Banerjee hit back sharply while addressing a Trinamool Congress rally in Murarai assembly constituency in Birbhum district. She called the entire incident staged and questioned its spontaneity.
“It’s all drama,” Banerjee said. “How come a camera was present when the prime minister suddenly made an unscheduled stop during the campaign? The entire episode was scripted. He was seen carrying a Rs 10 note in his pocket. Is it believable?” She went further, alleging that the Special Protection Group (SPG) had pre-arranged the jhalmuri and that a microphone and cameras were already fitted inside the shop. “A microphone fitted, the SPG around him... Even that jhalmuri was prepared earlier. How were cameras already installed in the shop? It’s only drama,” she told the crowd, repeating the charge at subsequent rallies in Khardah and Beleghata.
Banerjee also challenged Modi on a lighter note, daring him to try eating fish - a Bengali favourite while claiming she herself enjoys “your dhokla and dosa.” The remarks come as West Bengal gears up for the first phase of Assembly elections on April 24, covering 152 seats, with the second phase on April 29 and results on May 4. The jhalmuri episode has added a new flavour to the high-pitched campaign, turning a simple snack stop into a symbol of political optics for both sides.
The vendor, Sahoo, who has been running the stall for over a decade, has suddenly found himself in the spotlight, with locals flocking to his shop not just for jhalmuri but to hear the story behind the Prime Minister’s visit. Whether a genuine connect with Bengal’s street culture or a choreographed campaign moment, the “jhalmuri break” has dominated headlines and social media, highlighting the intense battle for votes in the state.
