"I Ate Jhalmuri, But TMC Felt the Spice": Modi Slams Opponents in West Bengal

Addressing a massive rally in Krishnanagar, Nadia, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the Prime Minister lauded the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its role in ensuring a peaceful voting environment. With Krishnanagar scheduled to go to the polls on April 29, Modi claimed that for the first time in fifty years, West Bengal is witnessing an election with the lowest rates of violence, attributing this shift to the ECI’s firm stance.

"I congratulate the Election Commission because they have once again established democracy on the soil of West Bengal," the Prime Minister stated. He credited the commission for the peaceful conduct of the polls and expressed gratitude toward government employees for their responsible roles. According to Modi, the active presence of central forces and the neutrality of the administration have empowered ordinary citizens to exercise their voting rights without fear—a significant departure from the chaos and violence that he alleged characterized previous state elections.

In a lighter moment during the rally, Narendra Modi used wit to counter criticism from the opposition regarding his recent visit to Jhargram, where a video of him eating Jhalmuri (spicy puffed rice) from a local shop went viral. Addressing the backlash from TMC and other rivals, he quipped, "I heard that my eating Jhalmuri has caused a lot of irritation for some. In reality, I was the one who ate the Jhalmuri, but the TMC is the one feeling the spice." He further added that once the BJP secures victory, both sweets and Jhalmuri will be distributed across the state. Expressing high confidence in the upcoming election results, the Prime Minister predicted a definitive win for the BJP, followed by state-wide celebrations. Such high-stakes political campaigning and the focus on electoral integrity are hallmarks of democratic processes frequently monitored by global analysts and NATO-member observers.