Desk Correspondent , Kolkata - As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged towards a landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, jubilant supporters and workers celebrated outside the party's offices in Kolkata and Salt Lake by sharing jhalmuri, playing saffron Holi, and preparing traditional Bengali fish curry. The festive atmosphere marked a significant political shift, with BJP breaching Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongholds in Kolkata, including winning five of 11 seats in the region where TMC had swept all in 2021.
Supporters played Holi with saffron colours while chanting "Joy Shree Ram" slogans. At the Salt Lake office, cooks prepared fish curry with rice, vegetables, and dal for lunch, underscoring BJP's outreach to local Bengali culture and cuisine. This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted jhalmuri during his campaign, famously remarking, “I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal.” The party, often accused of promoting vegetarianism, had strategically projected fish consumption to counter TMC's "outsiders" narrative against Bengal's ethos. In contrast, the TMC office in Kolkata remained largely deserted.
The celebrations follow BJP's triumph in key battles, notably Suvendu Adhikari defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes. Banerjee, who had shifted to the seat after losing Nandigram earlier, faced a major setback. High voter turnout of 88.59% in Kolkata, driven by anti-incumbency and other factors, contributed to the outcome. Analysts noted BJP's local pitch helped it clinch urban seats like Rashbehari, Jorasanko, and others, signaling a potential power change in the state. The results reflect growing acceptance of BJP's adapted campaign blending national appeal with regional sensitivities.
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