A casual stop for a local snack has spiraled into a major political controversy during the West Bengal assembly election campaign. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his “Jhalmuri stop” led to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s helicopter being denied permission to land in Lalgarh. The TMC has labeled the BJP as “anti-tribal,” claiming that the Prime Minister’s photo opportunity was prioritized over a rally by a prominent tribal leader. On Sunday, images of PM Modi enjoying a ₹10 serving of Jhalmuri at a busy market stall went viral, which the TMC now cites as the reason for the administrative delay that hampered Soren’s campaign schedule in Jhargram.


