PM Modi Shares Jhalmuri with NDA Allies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently shared the popular Bengali street snack Jhalmuri with leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during a significant meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The gathering, held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, commemorated the NDA government's twelve years in office and celebrated Modi's achievement as India's longest-serving continuously elected Prime Minister.
The event, which saw leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partners enjoying the crunchy snack, quickly drew attention, echoing a similar moment from an earlier election campaign.
The Jhalmuri's Political Journey
This appearance of Jhalmuri carried particular significance, as the humble snack had unexpectedly become a political talking point during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign earlier in the year. Its return to the political spotlight at such a high-profile meeting underscores its unusual journey from a roadside delicacy to a symbol of political engagement.
In April, during a hectic campaign schedule in West Bengal, Prime Minister Modi made an unscheduled stop at a Jhalmuri stall in Jhargram. He interacted with the vendor, purchased the snack, and later shared the moment on social media. The video rapidly went viral, accumulating over 100 million views on Instagram within 24 hours and nearly 90 million views on Facebook, making Jhalmuri an unexpected icon of the election season.
The viral incident sparked a massive surge in interest, with Google searches for Jhalmuri reaching their highest levels in over two decades. Critically, the BJP went on to secure victories in all four Assembly seats in Jhargram and achieved a sweeping win across West Bengal, ending the Trinamool Congress's fifteen-year rule by securing 208 seats.
With Jhalmuri once again on the menu at Bharat Mandapam, the snack that became a viral campaign sensation has reaffirmed its place at the heart of major political events, symbolizing a unique intersection of culture and politics.