Jhalmuri goes national: Shopkeeper who served PM Modi speaks out
Synopsis
A roadside jhalmuri stall in Jhargram became one of the defining images of the 2025 West Bengal election — and now, with the BJP on course for a majority, the humble spiced puffed-rice snack has gone from campaign prop to national symbol, with Union Ministers and Delhi's Chief Minister joining the celebration.
Key Takeaways
Vikram Shaw , the Jhargram shopkeeper who served jhalmuri to PM Modi during the campaign, says the snack has now gained recognition across India.
BJP trends showed 55 seats won and leads in 149 others as of 6:40 pm on counting day; TMC was at 23 won and leading in 60 .
PM Modi had quipped at a rally: "I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal." Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta celebrated the BJP win by eating jhalmuri publicly.
BJP workers distributed jhalmuri and kamala bhog across West Bengal as counting trends firmed up.
The shopkeeper who served Bengal's beloved street snack jhalmuri to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign last month says the humble puffed-rice mix has now become "famous" across the country. Vikram Shaw, owner of the Jhargram-based stall, shared his delight on Monday, 4 May, as early trends pointed to a decisive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) majority in the state.
The Snack That Started It All
"Not only has my shop become famous, but jhalmuri has gained recognition across India," Shaw told IANS. The snack, whose name derives from the Bengali word "jhal" meaning spicy or hot, had already become a cultural talking point during the campaign. When Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee criticised the Prime Minister's street-side stop, Modi turned the moment into a political quip at a subsequent rally: "I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal (spice)."
BJP Turns Jhalmuri Into a Victory Symbol
With counting progressing, the BJP maintained a commanding lead. Trends from the Election Commission of India (ECI) at 6:40 pm showed the party having won 55 seats and leading in 149 others. The Trinamool Congress had secured 23 seats and was ahead in 60. Celebrations erupted across West Bengal as BJP workers distributed jhalmuri and kamala bhog and danced to popular Bengali songs — the snack now serving as an unofficial symbol of the party's victory lap.
What Union Ministers and CMs Said
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi shared images of himself eating jhalmuri and said: "On the victory in West Bengal, jalebi won't do — just Jhalmuri will suffice. Today is the day for Jhalmuri, I'm eating it with gusto, so if anyone feels the 'jhal' (spice), please don't take it amiss."
The celebratory mood extended to Delhi, where Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her Cabinet colleagues marked the occasion by sharing jhalmuri and rasgulla at the Delhi Secretariat. In a post on X, Gupta wrote: "Under the leadership of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, every state in the country is turning saffron. With Assam's hat-trick victory, the BJP government has also come to power in Bengal. Heartiest congratulations on the resounding victory! Celebrating the win, with 'jhalmuri' and 'rasgulla'."
A Regional Snack, Now a National Metaphor
What began as a campaign stop at a roadside stall in Jhargram has evolved into a broader cultural moment — rare in Indian electoral politics, where food often becomes shorthand for regional identity and political messaging. The jhalmuri episode is being widely cited as one of the more memorable optics of the 2025 West Bengal election campaign. With the BJP now poised to form the government in the state, the snack's journey from a Jhargram stall to national headlines looks set to endure well beyond election season.
Point of View
Regionalise, and generate earned media that opposition parties struggle to counter. The real story here is not the snack but the BJP's ability to turn a five-minute stall visit into a sustained political symbol, from the campaign trail to the Delhi Secretariat. For the TMC, the 'jhal' metaphor landing this well is the kind of narrative defeat that stings longer than a news cycle.
NationPress
5 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vikram Shaw and why is he in the news?
Vikram Shaw is the owner of a jhalmuri stall in Jhargram, West Bengal, who served the popular Bengali street snack to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the state's election campaign. He gained national attention after Modi's visit and spoke to media on 4 May 2025 as BJP trends showed a decisive lead in West Bengal.
What is jhalmuri and why did it become politically significant?
Jhalmuri is a popular Bengali street snack made of puffed rice mixed with spices, mustard oil, and vegetables — its name comes from 'jhal', meaning spicy. It became politically significant after PM Modi stopped at a Jhargram stall during campaigning, prompting a viral moment and a subsequent quip at a rally: 'I ate jhalmuri, but TMC felt the jhal.'
What were the West Bengal election trends as of 6:40 pm on counting day?
According to Election Commission of India data at 6:40 pm, the BJP had won 55 seats and was leading in 149 others, while the Trinamool Congress had secured 23 seats and was ahead in 60. The trends pointed strongly toward a BJP majority government in West Bengal.
How did BJP leaders celebrate the West Bengal election results?
BJP workers across West Bengal distributed jhalmuri and kamala bhog and danced to Bengali songs. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi shared images of himself eating jhalmuri, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrated with jhalmuri and rasgulla at the Delhi Secretariat.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta say about the BJP's West Bengal win?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta posted on X that under PM Modi's leadership every state is 'turning saffron', congratulating the party on its West Bengal win alongside Assam's hat-trick victory, and celebrated with jhalmuri and rasgulla at the Delhi Secretariat.
