West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | Poll Vault: Culinary crack!

As Home Minister Amit Shah announced plans to spend 15 days in poll-bound West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress dished out a cheeky welcome, with a bit of Bangaliyana — its cultural counter to the BJP’s Hindutva. “Stay for as long as you like. And do not miss out on some of our finest delicacies,” the party posted on X, likening Shah to a tourist and urging the BJP leader – known to be a vegetarian like many saffron stalwarts – to try Muri Ghonto (fish-head curry), Pabda Macher Jhal (spicy butterfish curry), Ilish Bhapa (steamed hilsa fish), Chingri Malai Curry (prawn coconut curry), Bhetki Paturi (banana leaf-wrapped Asian Seabass), and Kosha Mangsho (slow-cooked mutton curry) during his stay.

The culinary crack follows TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s recent warning that Bengalis’ staple fare — fish, mutton and eggs — could be at risk if the BJP comes to power.