The political battle in West Bengal has taken a culinary turn with ‘fish’ becoming the latest election tool. For years, the Trinamool Congress has targeted the BJP, labeling it a “vegetarian party” that is against the non-vegetarian food habits of Bengalis. To shatter this perception and give a befitting reply to the TMC, a BJP candidate on Friday pulled off a unique stunt. During his campaign, he visited a local fish market and picked up a massive ‘Katla fish’ to reassure voters.

The candidate claimed that the TMC is spreading a “fear psychosis” among Bengalis by saying that a BJP government would ban meat and fish. “I am a fish-eater myself. We celebrate Bengal’s diverse cuisine. TMC is lying to scare voters. Our goal is to make fish like Hilsa and Katla more affordable for the common man,” the candidate asserted while interacting with buyers and sellers in the market.

The TMC, however, dismissed the act as “pure political drama.” TMC leaders argued that the BJP, which is known for its food-related politics across India, is now pretending to be “pro-fish” only to secure votes in Bengal. They claimed that Bengalis are smart enough to see through such “staged photoshoots.”

Despite the criticism, the candidate’s ‘fish-diplomacy’ has become the talk of the town. By physically holding a fish during a public rally, the BJP is trying to connect with the middle-class Bengali sentiment at a grassroots level. As the 2026 Assembly elections heat up, this ‘Veg vs Non-Veg’ narrative is likely to play a crucial role in the social-political discourse of the state.