A candid video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoying West Bengal’s iconic snack of ‘jhalmuri’ has spread on social media like wildfire, racking up more than 100 million views on Instagram in 24 hours.
PM Modi made an unscheduled visit to a shop in Jhargram to try out the popular Bengali snack and interacted with bystanders in the area. His visit came during a high-octane campaign in West Bengal with three days to go for the first phase of the Assembly elections in the state.
The video garnered more than 90 million views on Facebook and 100 million on Instagram, showcasing the massive digital influence the Prime Minister holds. Furthermore, Google searches for “Jhalmuri” spiked to their highest levels in 22 years, pushing the snack into the spotlight.
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In the video, the Prime Minister was seen engaging with the shopkeeper, saying, “Bhai, hame apna jhalmuri khilao” and insisted on paying Rs 10 for the snack. Asked by the shopkeeper if he would eat onions, PM Modi said, “Pyaaz khaate hai, dimag nai khaate bas (I eat onions, not brains).”
The stall belongs to Vikram Sah, a native of Bihar’s Gaya district, who has been running the jhalmuri shop in Jhargram for the past 12 years.
The Prime Minister was also seen distributing the traditional puffed rice-based mixture to locals gathered at the spot. The shop witnessed an unexpected surge of visitors after his stopover.
PM Modi was dressed in his signature attire: a white kurta, a dark blue pinstriped waistcoat, and a bright red scarf with a white BJP lotus symbol embroidered on it.
“Amid four public meetings spanning across West Bengal on a hectic Sunday, I savoured some delicious spicy puffed rice, Jhalmuri in Jhargram,” the PM said in three posts on his X handle along with a video of the visit.
In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious Jhalmuri in Jhargram. pic.twitter.com/NEKLm5R0mE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2026
West Bengal is witnessing an intense political clash between the BJP and the ruling TMC ahead of the assembly elections.
