(UNI SPECIAL)
Jayanta Roy Chowdhury
New Delhi, Jun 10 (UNI) At a gathering of leaders from the National Democratic Alliance here on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paused to enjoy a serving of 'jhal muri' offered by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Modi's public appearance with 'Jhal muri' (spicy puffed rice) in hand comes about a month and half after he was seen eating the snack at a wayside shop in West Bengal's Jhargram.
Wednesday's 'Jhal muri' episode, analysts said, was to symbolically underscore not only the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal but also the coming importance of Bengal within the NDA where rebel TMC MPs have formed a separate bloc and sought to join the BJP, buttressing the strength of the alliance which stands 313 in the lower house of Parliament.
A list of the score or so MPs is being sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker, on Wednesday itself according to TMC leader Shatabdi Roy. The 'Jhal muri' episode happened close on the heels of Bengal's former chief minister Mamata Banerjee met up with Congress leader Sonia Gandhi sparking speculation that she may be considering merging the rump of her party still loyal to her with the Congress.
However, sources said the meeting on Tuesday was to work out ways to strengthen coordination between the Congress and TMC in the days ahead. Wednesday's brief exchange between Modi, Adhikari with 'Jhal muri' as the main bond, captured on video, has gone viral on social media.
Behind the lighter moment, the NDA meeting was focused on the next phase of the BJP's expansion across India, according to sources. Party leaders discussed how the organisation's approach which has evolved from a highly visible, campaign driven politics of yesteryears to a quieter strategy focused on consolidation through a mix of governance, development and administrative delivery in states under its control.
The conversation reflected a broader reassessment within the political grouping as it seeks to consolidate its position while expanding into regions where it has traditionally struggled to gain a foothold. Leaders examined electoral road maps for several states, including Punjab, where the BJP is increasingly seeking to establish itself as the principal alternative to both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The discussions suggested that the BJP sees its future growth not merely in mobilising existing supporters, but in persuading new voters that it can serve as a credible governing alternative in states where regional and opposition parties have long dominated the political landscape.
UNI JRC RSA