Kolkata, May 4 : Celebrations broke out across West Bengal as early counting trends indicated a strong lead for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with party workers marking the moment by distributing traditional snacks like ‘jhalmuri’ and ‘kamala bhog’ and dancing to popular Bengali songs.
Outside the BJP’s state headquarters in Kolkata, party workers, including leader Narayan Chattopadhyay, were seen celebrating enthusiastically, sharing food and raising slogans.
The choice of ‘jhalmuri’ held symbolic significance, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had famously stopped to enjoy the snack during his campaign trail in Jhargram, turning it into a talking point during the election season.
Speaking to IANS, Chattopadhyay said, “There is an atmosphere of happiness. We will play with saffron gulal. PM Narendra Modi ate the jhalmuri, but it was the Trinamool members who felt the burn.”
He expressed confidence that the people of Bengal had voted for change. “The Bengal people have blessed us that the BJP will come to power. We will celebrate in a big way, the entire India will stand witness to it,” he added.
Amid chants of “Jai Shree Ram,” BJP supporters framed the moment as a turning point for the state. One party worker said the victory reflected the will of the people, particularly women. “Now, since the BJP has come to power here, we will show how West Bengal needs to be run. PM Modi will form the government here to give safety to our mothers and sisters,” he said.
Supporters like Mithu Ganguly echoed similar sentiments, describing the moment as long-awaited. “We have waited for 15 years for this day. We will now show how West Bengal moves on the path of development,” she said.
Another supporter, Aparna Chakraborty, highlighted that the BJP would prioritise safety and security, especially for women in the state.
Meanwhile, Nandlal Yadav criticised both the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and the All India Trinamool Congress, alleging that West Bengal’s industrial growth had suffered under their governance. He expressed hope that industries would return under Modi’s leadership.
Some party workers also claimed that the results were a reflection of public dissatisfaction with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party.
Celebrations were not limited to Kolkata. Jubilant scenes were reported outside counting centres in Durgapur and Ranaghat South, where supporters gathered in large numbers.
In Shibpur, located in Howrah, women BJP workers were seen dancing to Bengali songs, adding to the festive atmosphere. Party worker Priyanka Sharma said the outcome was expected based on public sentiment. “The way the public had voted this time, we were confident that our government would be formed in the state. The people had decided to bring a change,” she said.
She further alleged that several BJP workers had been victims of post-poll violence in 2021, calling the current moment a tribute to them. “Today’s win is a tribute to those BJP workers,” she added.
As counting continues and final results are awaited, the celebratory mood among BJP supporters reflects growing confidence within the party ranks about forming the next government in West Bengal.
