AsWest Bengal 2026 Assembly Electionvote count continues, early trends show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gaining an edge over Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). Jhargram, where PM Narendra Modi made headlines last month after stopping at a local jhalmuri stall during campaigning, is notably witnessing a BJP lead. Modi’s viral street-food moment has kept jhalmuri in political discussions throughout the election season, even drawing reactions from the TMC as the symbolic snack stop now returns to focus on the result day.

West Bengal braces for a high-stakes verdict as counting for the 294-member assembly is underway from 8 am today. After recording a historic voter turnout of 92.9 per cent across two phases, the state has set the stage for one of its most closely watched elections in recent memory.

BJP has already crossed the halfway mark in West Bengal, leaving behind TMC. Notably, Jhargram is one of the 294 legislative assembly constituencies in the state, and is also classified as semi-urban. It falls within the Jhargram district of West Bengal.

As the BJP leads, Laxmikant Sahu is the party's candidate in Jhargram, while Mongal Saren is contesting from the Trinamool Congress.

During the middle of an intense campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, PM Modi stopped at a local jhalmuri stall. After asking the vendor to make him a serving, PM Modi proceeded to pay for the same. While the vendor wouldn't initially accept money from the Prime Minister, he eventually agreed.

As the Jhalmuri moment turned into a political controversy, TMC hit out at PM Modi, calling it all a "drama". “It’s all drama. How come a camera was present when the prime minister suddenly made an unscheduled stop during the campaign? The entire episode was scripted. He was seen carrying a Rs 10 note in his pocket. Is it believable?" Mamata Banerjee said, as quoted by The Times of India.

To this, PM Modi reacted during another election rally, saying Jhalmuri maine khayi, lekin jhal TMC ko lagi' (I have heard that even 'jhalmuri' has shaken some people. It was I who ate 'jhalmuri', but TMC felt the 'jhal')."

Taking a swipe at the TMC, the Prime Minister said that jhalmuri will be distributed on May 4 after the BJP's thumping victory in the West Bengal polls.

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