NEW DELHI: As West Bengal gears up for the 2026 assembly polls, ‘Mache Bhate Bangali’, a common catchphrase that dominated the household of every Bengali has now moved into the political field.With this, it has become an emblem of identity, culture and pride, shaping the narrative of the high-stakes electoral battle. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee amplified this sentiment in a rally in Purulia, targeting the BJP. “They will not let you eat fish. You cannot have meat, you cannot have eggs, you cannot speak in Bengali. If you do, they will call you Bangladeshi,” she said.
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Fish, long considered the lifeline of West Bengal, is now at the centre of this narrative. A staple on almost every Bengali’s plate, it has moved beyond cuisine to become a symbol of cultural belonging.The phrase ‘Mache bhate Bangali’ which translates to a Bengali being defined by fish and rice has leapt from the kitchen into the political arena, reflecting how everyday traditions are now shaping the contours of the state’s election campaign.
Fish on the campaigning menu
In West Bengal’s election waters, fish has swum from the dinner plate to the center of the political net.The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is using it to hook Bengali pride, while the BJP scrambles not to be caught on the wrong side of the ‘mache bhate Bangali’ sentiment.From giant katla fish held aloft at roadshows to ilish, pabda and chingri finding pride of place in speeches, fish has emerged as a potent metaphor. It now symbolises identity, culture and the question of who truly represents a “real” Bengali.The TMC has weaponised this sentiment, arguing that the BJP associated with Hindi-speaking, vegetarian-first politics of North India is culturally alien to Bengal.
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Mamata Banerjee sharpened this point at a rally: “If the BJP comes to power, they would ban meat and fish in Bengal. I saw Bihar’s Deputy CM say that fish and meat can’t be sold in open markets. Only those who have a licence can sell meat indoors. So, will everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? Only a few have the economic strength to do so. Most fish sellers sell fresh fish on the streets here. This is how they earn their bread. I condemn this politics.”By framing the campaign around Bengali identity, the TMC has shifted the focus towards cultural nationalism. In this way, fish is no longer just a dish served at every household; it is a badge of Bengali pride.
Culinary nationalism and social media
The TMC’s social media has amplified this narrative, posting pictures of ilish bhapa, pabda jhal, chingri malai curry, kosha mangsho and other delicacies.Ahead of Union home minister Amit Shah’s 15-day visit to Bengal, the party tweeted: “Bengal welcomes tourists. Do not miss our delicacies. We highly recommend: Muri Ghonto, Pabda Macher Jhal, Ilish Bhapa, Chingri Malai Curry, Bhetki Paturi, Kosha Mangsho. Have a pleasant stay!”Political analyst Maidul Islam said, “Within that Bengali project, fish-eating is an important element. When fish markets are attacked elsewhere, or Hindi-speaking leaders wrinkle their noses at fish, it becomes a campaign point. The TMC is saying it is the organic party of Bengalis and therefore organically linked to Bengali food habits.”
Fish as culture, ritual and identity
In West Bengal, fish is more than food. It marks life events: from a baby’s first rice-eating ceremony to gifts at weddings, to meals after mourning.World Bank data shows West Bengal consumes 8.36 lakh tonnes of fish annually, nearly twice the national average and fish and meat together account for almost a fifth of household food expenditure, according to PTI.For many, attempts to impose vegetarian or homogenised food habits from outside the state feed into fears of cultural invasion.A Kolkata-based Indologist said, “For Bengalis, fish is not merely food. It is memory, ritual, and identity. To challenge that is to appear alien to West Bengal itself.”Kaushik Maiti of the Bengali nationalist outfit Bangla Pokkho added: “Fish is very much part of Bengali identity. But the BJP wants to impose the vegetarian food culture of North India, we are opposed to it.”
BJP’s fish dilemma
The BJP insists the TMC is manufacturing fear. Leaders point out that there is no proposal to ban fish or meat in West Bengal. Yet, the perception is strong enough that BJP candidates are now campaigning with fish in hand.Sharadwat Mukherjee, Bidhannagar BJP candidate carried a five kg katla fish through neighbourhoods, assuring voters that the BJP would never interfere with Bengali food habits.In Pandaveswar, BJP candidate Jitendra Nath Tiwari filed nomination papers with a “fish procession,” supporters carrying baskets while he held a large one. He said, “If promoting West Bengal’s culture is drama, I am proud of this drama.”Political analyst Suman Bhattacharya observed, “The perception that the BJP is against fish and non-vegetarian food has become so strong that party leaders now have to publicly eat fish and campaign with it. That itself shows how their vegetarian politics elsewhere didn’t work in West Bengal.”State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya reinforced the point: “There is no question of banning fish. Bengalis will eat fish and Biharis will eat mutton. If anyone tries to stop me, I will resist.”The TMC’s narrative gains traction because of incidents in BJP-ruled states. Earlier remarks by Bihar deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha about restricting meat near schools and places of worship and prior controversies over meat shops and fish markets, reinforce fears that a North Indian vegetarian-first cultural model could be imposed in Bengal.In January, a vendor was allegedly assaulted in Kolkata for selling chicken patties near a religious gathering. The incident had deepened the controversy.
Election as a cultural battle
As the election intensifies, West Bengal’s assembly polls are not just a contest over seats, governance, or development they are also about identity, culture and cuisine.The humble fish, a culinary staple, has emerged as a political symbol, showing that in Bengal, the plate and politics are inseparably intertwined.As TMC spokesperson Tanmoy Ghosh said: “Meat- and fish-eaters can be Nobel laureates, scholars, entrepreneurs, and rebels who change history with a pen, not violence… Linking food habits to ‘violent tendencies’ is moral imposition. India’s strength lies in pluralism, diversity, and constitutional freedom — not in policing plates.”The elections, for 294 seats in West Bengal, will be held in two phases: April 23 (152 constituencies) and April 29 (142), with results scheduled for May 4.
