West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent stop at a roadside stall to eat ‘Jhalmuri’, calling it a pre-planned theatrical performance. Speaking at an election rally in Murarai, she questioned the authenticity of the “impromptu” visit, suggesting that every detail was orchestrated to gain public sympathy ahead of the polls.

Questions over scripted filming Banerjee highlighted that if the visit was truly spontaneous, cameras would not have been pre-installed inside the shop. She mocked the display of a ten-rupee note in the Prime Minister’s pocket and claimed the entire sequence was directed by security agencies. The video, which garnered millions of views on social media, is being termed as a “setting” by the Trinamool Congress leadership to manipulate voter perception.

Operational disruptions and fallout The controversy escalated as the TMC alleged that the Prime Minister’s unscheduled stop caused significant delays for Jharkhand’s former CM Hemant Soren. Due to security protocols surrounding the PM, Soren’s helicopter was reportedly denied landing permission in Jhargram, forcing him to cancel his program. This incident has intensified the ongoing political friction between the BJP and the state government just days before the upcoming phases of polling.

At a glance

• Mamata Banerjee labels PM Modi’s roadside snack stop as a “pre-scripted drama.”
• Questions raised on how cameras were ready inside the shop for a supposedly unplanned visit.
• Allegations that the PM’s stop led to the cancellation of Hemant Soren’s Jhargram rally.
• The incident has sparked a fresh row between BJP and TMC ahead of the April elections.