Fish and meat campaigns reshape West Bengal elections around money not ideology

Voters hear culture served with an economic pitch

As BJP and TMC intensify outreach in West Bengal, campaigns are increasingly leaning on fish and meat—deeply rooted Bengali staples—to resonate with voters. Beyond symbolism, the messaging spotlights the state’s non-vegetarian industry as an economic engine, supporting livelihoods and driving exports, suggesting election strategies are tapping into everyday incomes rather than pure politics.