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Fish takes center stage in West Bengal poll campaign
In Kolkata's humid pre-dawn streets, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Koustav Bagchi moves door-to-door, a fresh fish in hand. Dressed in traditional white and red, he lets the gesture speak for itself-no policy speeches, just a quiet assertion: I belong here.
Cultural symbolism meets political strategy
Bagchi, a lawyer contesting from Barrackpore, is one of several BJP hopefuls wielding fish as a campaign prop. A few kilometers away, rival candidate Rakesh Singh parades through Kolkata's port area, hoisting a fish aloft while supporters drum and chant. The message is deliberate: fish, a cornerstone of Bengali identity, is now a political weapon.
For decades, fish has been more than sustenance in West Bengal-it's woven into rituals, memories, and regional pride. A 2024 study by ICAR and WorldFish found 65.7% of the state's population eats fish weekly, far above India's national average. In literature and folklore, it symbolizes survival, ecology, and belonging. Now, it's being repurposed to counter perceptions of outsider interference.
BJP's vegetarian image sparks backlash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has long faced criticism for promoting vegetarianism, with some BJP-ruled states imposing meat sale restrictions or enforcing cow protection laws. In West Bengal, where fish is sacrosanct, these policies have fueled fears of cultural erosion.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking a fourth term with her Trinamool Congress (TMC), has seized on these anxieties. At a rally, she warned: "The BJP will ban fish, meat, and eggs. What will Bengal eat then?" Her rhetoric frames the election as a battle to preserve local traditions against an intrusive central government.
"Bengal lives on fish and rice. You're telling us we can't have fish-what's left?"
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister
BJP fires back with economic and cultural arguments
The BJP has dismissed Banerjee's claims as fearmongering. Party leader Smriti Irani called them "a lie", while Kolkata candidate Swapan Dasgupta accused the TMC of using fish as a distraction from corruption allegations.
Modi, a vegetarian, turned the narrative on its head during a rally, criticizing the TMC's governance: "After 15 years in power, Bengal still imports fish. Even this basic need isn't met." Banerjee retorted that 80% of the state's demand is locally sourced and accused the BJP of hypocrisy, citing meat shop raids in BJP-ruled states.
Fish as a proxy for deeper divides
Beyond politics, fish carries layered meanings in Bengal. It reflects geography (river vs. delta), history (Partition's legacy), and class (who can afford prized hilsa). Even football rivalries play into the symbolism: East Bengal FC fans are stereotyped as hilsa lovers, while Mohun Bagan supporters favor prawns-a nod to migration and cultural divides.
Historian Jayanta Sengupta notes that fish's dense symbolism makes it a potent political tool. "The BJP's association with vegetarian norms forced it to engage with Bengal's culinary identity," he says. "Both sides are using fish to bait each other, turning a staple into a campaign prop."
Election day promises fish-and a verdict
As voting nears, the BJP's state president Samik Bhattacharya has promised fried fish for journalists on results day. In a playful jab, he vowed to send small fish to Banerjee's home and invite TMC workers for mach bhaat (fish and rice). The quip underscores the election's high stakes: cultural pride, governance, and who gets to claim Bengal's soul.
Fish may not decide the outcome, but it has already framed the contest-proving how seamlessly politics and culture intertwine in India's most flavorful election yet.
