Fish Becomes Unexpected Campaign Weapon in West Bengal's High-Stakes Election Battle

Fish Becomes Unexpected Campaign Weapon in West Bengal's High-Stakes Election Battle

As West Bengal prepares for crucial state assembly elections on April 23 and 29, an unlikely symbol has emerged at the center of the political debate: fish. Candidates are literally brandishing the seafood staple on campaign trails in what analysts describe as a novel and unconventional strategy to woo voters in India's eastern state.

The fish frenzy highlights deeper tensions over regional identity and cultural values in a contest that pits the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has never governed West Bengal despite controlling the national government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Campaign Spectacle

BJP candidate Sharadwat Mukherjee has taken to canvassing door-to-door while wielding a large Catla fish, waving it as he greets potential voters. The imagery underscores the peculiar nature of political campaigning in the state, where nearly 68 million voters are expected to cast ballots to elect 294 lawmakers to the state assembly. Results will be declared on May 4.

The state's population of over 90 million people exceeds that of Germany, making it a significant political battleground.

Why Fish Matters in Bengal

Fish consumption is deeply embedded in Bengali culture and daily life. According to a 2024 study, approximately 65 percent of West Bengal residents consume fish weekly. The ingredient transcends religious and caste boundaries, featuring prominently in ritual observances for both Hindu and Muslim communities.

Utsa Ray, an assistant professor at Jadavpur University who authored a 2015 book on Bengali culinary history, explained the cultural significance: "Fish is very crucial in Bengal, very crucial. First of all, due to Bengal's geographical location itself — along the Bay of Bengal — and as a place situated near rivers and streams, fish have been the most available item."

The staple's importance was dramatically illustrated during Bangladesh's political upheaval when student protesters who stormed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence after her flight were photographed raiding her refrigerator for fish.

Mamata's Strategic Messaging

Mamata Banerjee, the TMC chairperson and current chief minister seeking a fourth consecutive term, has weaponized fish as a symbol of Bengali identity. She has repeatedly warned voters that a BJP victory would mean bans on fish, meat, and eggs — characterizing the party as culturally alien outsiders indifferent to Bengali traditions.

The BJP has rejected these allegations, but the narrative has gained traction. Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty, a psephologist who has authored multiple works on voting behavior, contends that Banerjee constructed the entire fish controversy as a political strategy.

"For long, she has peddled that fish is parallel to Bengali politics," Chakraborty told Al Jazeera. "In election campaigning, every issue is constructed, and Mamata is the champion of that."

He further argued that the BJP's defensive response has inadvertently strengthened Banerjee's position: "They [the BJP] are entering, or rather trapped, into the discourse set by Mamata."

The BJP's Fish Gambit

Facing accusations of cultural insensitivity, the BJP scrambled to counter the narrative. The party arranged for Anurag Thakur, a Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh, to publicly consume fish on camera on Tuesday — a move that critics dismiss as transparent opportunism.

Banojyotsna Lahiri, a social activist and West Bengal voter, characterized these displays as mere "gimmickry." She remarked: "In Bengal, [the BJP] have suddenly realised that they appear as aliens with their vegetarian posturing because both fish and meat are integral to the Bengal culinary choices, caste or religion notwithstanding."

Broader Context: Food Politics in India

The fish debate reflects larger patterns of food-based politics under BJP-governed states. The party-led administrations have implemented bans or restrictions on meat sales across several states, while far-right vigilante groups have carried out violent attacks on Muslims in BJP-ruled regions over alleged beef transportation.

Neelanjan Sircar, a senior visiting fellow at the Centre for Policy Research think tank in Delhi, explained: "Questions of what food people will eat, especially non-vegetarian food, have been associated with the BJP's politics to impose restrictions and dictate food options."

Ray added that the BJP has promoted a "hyper masculine, Hindutva, and vegetarianism" particularly in northern India's Hindi-speaking regions, with documented cases of violence linked to non-vegetarian consumption. However, such messaging resonates poorly in Bengal's distinct cultural context.

Election Issues Beyond Fish

While fish has captured headlines, other significant polling controversies simmer beneath the surface. A controversial revision of the electoral register removed 9.1 million names before voting began, prompting criticism that minorities were systematically disenfranchised. To date, 2.7 million individuals have challenged their removal from voter rolls.

Identity politics remains central to the campaign, with Banerjee leveraging regional and Bengali cultural identity as her primary weapon against the Hindu nationalist BJP.

A Political Novelty

Both Sircar and Ray acknowledged that the visible deployment of fish on campaign trails represents an unprecedented phenomenon, even within India's often-colorful political landscape.

"Creating these new images for the BJP is important," Sircar observed. "So, to create another image in voters' minds leads to these outlandish displays."

Whether fish can ultimately swing electoral outcomes remains uncertain. What is clear is that in West Bengal's contest, culinary traditions have become political currency, and regional identity has moved squarely to the campaign frontline.