The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scripted history with its performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections, having won 32 seats and currently leading in 171, bringing its tally to 203, which means it is forming its first government in the state.
The TMC, on the other hand, has won 10 seats and is leading on 74, bringing their total to a mere 84, thus sealing the end of Mamata Banerjee's tenure as the state's chief minister.
Celebrations galore by the BJP
Celebrations began in the afternoon as it became clear that the people of Bengal had voted for change this time around. At the party's state headquarters in Salt Lake, BJP workers began preparing doi-katla, a traditional Bengali fish recipe, as a symbolic protest against the TMC's claims that if voted to power, the saffron party will restrict Bengalis' food habits.
On the other hand, in Delhi, the ‘jhalmuri’ has become the centre of attention. PM Narendra Modi, during one of his numerous electoral rallies in Bengal, stopped by a jhalmuri shop and had Bengal's favourite snack from a shopkeeper.
Mamata Banerjee and the TMC took a dig at the PM following this, claiming it was not a spontaneous decision and that CCTV cameras were allegedly installed in the shop in advance to capture the moment.
The BJP is now using this very snack as a treat after routing out the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the Bengal polls. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had jhalmuri and rasgullas with her cabinet ministers to celebrate the BJP's decisive victory in the Bengal polls.
Meanwhile, Union Minister and former BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumdar also joined the celebrations with the party's workers as the party gained a comfortable majority in the assembly elections.
Speaking with ANI, Sukanta Majumdar said, "The trends show the formation of a BJP Government in the state. 'Ram Rajya' has arrived in West Bengal."
Jhalmuri at the forefront
The BJP workers distributed ‘jhalmuri’ and celebrated at the party office in Kolkata.
A worker said, "PM always goes among the common man. He had 'jhalmuri,' and it is Didi who felt 'jhal' (spicy). She had even humiliated the 'jhalmuri wala' and said that an SPG personnel was made to sit there. Common people of the state have given her a befitting reply."
Even Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was spotted having jhalmuri in Mumbai as the party celebrates its breach of the Bengal fortress for the first time in the history of independent India.
Speaking to the reporters, Bhattacharya said, "...TMC's current political system has ended, and the people's government is going to be formed."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi later today, as trends show the BJP is set to come to power for the first time in Bengal and for the third consecutive time in Assam.
