West Bengal: BJP Leads In Jhargram; Seat Where PM Modi's 'Jhalmuri Moment' Made Headlines

Jhargram: Initial trends of the Election Commission of India (ECI) from the West Bengal Assembly election showed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in the Jhargram. This is the same place where Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped at a roadside stall to eat jhalmuri and interacted with locals during a campaign schedule. Currently, the BJP is leading in 123 seats, while the TMC is leading in 109.

When did PM Modi eat jhalmuri?

After campaign rallies in West Bengal, PM Modi on April 19 suddenly stopped at a Jhalmuri shop in Jhargram. PM Modi's eating Jhalmuri in this way was quite a trend at the time. 

In the video, PM Modi's convoy can be seen stopping near a small shop in Jhargram. The Prime Minister himself got down from the car and moved towards the Jhalmuri stall, the people present there surrounded him. 

In the clip, PM Modi can be heard asking the shopkeeper to make the snack. 

ঝাড়গ্রামে ঝালমুড়ি খাবার বিরতি! pic.twitter.com/t0TcDeONxt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2026

Who is contesting from Jhargram?

As per the ECI trends, in Jhargram, BJP candidate Lakshmi Kanta Sau was leading with over 900 votes, while Trinamool Congress candidate Mongal Saren was trailing.

Jhargram is one of the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. This constituency is classified as semi-urban and falls within the Jhargram district of the state. 

The two-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal this time were conducted on April 23 and April 29 and the counting of votes cast began at 8 am on Monday, with postal ballots counted first.