“Does he even carry ₹10 in his pocket? So much drama”: Mamata mocks Modi over jhalmuri row

The political battle in West Bengal has taken an unusual turn ahead of the first phase of polling, with jhalmuri emerging as a fresh flashpoint between rival camps. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen eating jhalmuri during his campaign visit to Jhargram, alleging that the act was staged for publicity.

Addressing a rally in Murarai, Mamata Banerjee said, “Eating jhalmuri is a drama—otherwise why were there cameras inside the shop?” She further claimed, “I heard he ate jhalmuri yesterday. It was prepared by SPG personnel. Cameras and microphones were already placed inside the shop. It’s all drama! Otherwise, why were there cameras inside? I also heard he paid money—does he even carry ₹10 in his pocket?” Her remarks directly questioned the authenticity of the Prime Minister’s public interaction.

The controversy stems from Sunday’s campaign trail, when Narendra Modi, after addressing a rally in Jhargram, stopped at a local shop, bought jhalmuri, shared it with people present, and reportedly paid ₹10 to the vendor. The moment quickly gained attention, especially after images from the visit circulated widely, showing camera equipment inside the shop, which triggered claims on social media that the episode may have been pre-arranged.

Mamata Banerjee intensified her criticism, saying, “He comes before elections and eats jhalmuri! And that too prepared by SPG, not the shopkeeper. What a show! Cameras and microphones are set up beforehand, and then he goes and eats jhalmuri. He even pays money. The same person who says ‘I am a tea seller’ before elections and visits caves in Kedarnath—does he really carry ₹10?” Her remarks linked the incident to broader allegations of political theatrics during election campaigns.

The shop where the Prime Minister stopped has since become a focal point of discussion. The vendor, Bikram Sau, had started with a cart after coming from another state and later established a permanent shop. The visit, along with images shared publicly, intensified political reactions, with the Trinamool Congress alleging the act was scripted. Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee is set to hold a rally in Jhargram as part of the party’s response, signalling that the issue has quickly escalated into a full-fledged political exchange ahead of voting.