In the lead-up to the West Bengal elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is creatively integrating the popular street snack jhalmuri into its campaign strategy. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public display of eating jhalmuri, candidates like Purnima Chakraborty, who is contesting from Shyampukur in North Kolkata, have adopted this snack as a cultural symbol to engage with voters. Chakraborty has been seen consuming jhalmuri daily after her campaign activities and distributing it to residents while canvassing for support. She stated, “I have made it a point to have jhalmuri every day after campaigning, and through that, I also connect with people.” Local vendors have noted a spike in demand for jhalmuri, attributing it to Modi's endorsement. The use of food as a political symbol is evident, with both jhalmuri and fish becoming important motifs in the election discourse. In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has remarked on the emerging 'jhalmuri politics,' suggesting that the true impact will be felt when election results are announced on April 4.