TMC alleges PM's unscheduled halt in Jhargram disrupted opposition campaign, says Bengal "will remember"
The Trinamool Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his brief halt to eat jhalmuri during a campaign visit in Jhargram, claiming the move disrupted opposition leaders' schedules.
The party alleged that the Prime Minister's extended stay in the area led to Hemant Soren being unable to complete his planned campaign programme in the state. According to the TMC, the Jharkhand Chief Minister and his wife were eventually forced to return to Ranchi without addressing scheduled events.
The controversy stems from an unscheduled stop made by the Prime Minister during a busy day of campaigning ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Modi was seen interacting with a street vendor and having jhalmuri, a popular local snack, during his visit.
TMC claimed that due to the Prime Minister's presence and the extension of his schedule, necessary clearances were not granted for Soren's helicopter to land in the region. The party said the leaders were kept waiting for hours before being compelled to return, calling the situation a reflection of disregard for elected representatives.
In its criticism, the party said the incident would not be forgotten by voters, remarking that "Bengal will remember," as campaigning intensifies ahead of polling.
The episode has added to the political tensions in the state, where campaigning has intensified with multiple parties targeting each other over governance and electoral conduct. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister had shared visuals of his stop, describing it as a brief pause between multiple rallies during a packed campaign schedule.