3 min readKolkataMay 4, 2026 05:00 PM IST
First published on: May 4, 2026 at 03:47 PM IST
Saffron clouds of aabir hung over counting centres across West Bengal Monday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was headed for a huge victory in the Bengal Assembly elections 2026, its supporters celebrated not just with drums and dancing, but with a distinctly Bengali spread that carried its own political messaging.
At street corners and party offices alike, workers broke into spontaneous celebrations, beating drums, distributing laddoos, and smearing colour on one another.
At the BJP’s office on 6, Murlidhar Sen Lane in Kolkata, however, the mood was more local in flavour as supporters tucked into jhaalmuri, echoing a moment from the campaign trail when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stopped to eat the snack in Jhargram.
That gesture had sparked a political back-and-forth, with Mamata Banerjee calling it stage-managed, and Modi retorting, “Jhaalmuri maine khaya, par jhaal TMC ko laga.”
During the West Bengal election campaign, the Trinamool Congress had warned people that a BJP government would curb consumption of fish and meat—claims party supporters appeared eager to counter.
In Alipore, as early leads came in, celebrations featured chicken biryani, fish, and jalebi.
“It was a lie spread against the BJP. Everyone can eat whatever they want, be it fish or meat,” said one supporter.
Inside the BJP office in Salt Lake, the menu was even more deliberate: rice, dal, vegetables, and quintessential Bengali dishes like fish head curry and katla fish curry, served to nearly 300 people. “In Bengal, every auspicious occasion begins with fish. Today is a very auspicious day for us and that is why the BJP will celebrate it with fish,” a senior BJP leader said.
Dessert, too, carried regional pride. Alongside laddoos and rosogollas, a senior leader said they have ordered 20 kg of sandesh. “Because sandesh is a traditional sweet of West Bengal and that is how we will celebrate the win”.
For state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, the symbolism was clear. “Fish and rice are Bengali dishes, and that is what is being served to the people. The TMC used to say that Delhi would bring its culture to West Bengal, but just see now, jhaalmuri has now reached Delhi. This is Bengal,” said Majumdar.
BJP workers and supporters also unfurled a 60-foot party flag, adding to celebrations across Kolkata.
At street corners and BJP offices alike, workers broke into spontaneous celebrations, beating drums, distributing laddoos, and smearing colour on one another. Express Photo by Partha Paul 
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