Maachh-ing ahead

An election troubled in fishy waters

Fish is the latest bait in the West Bengal elections.

Mamata-di spiced up the electoral roll-jhol , by warning that Bhindi Jowar Party would ban fish, along with all non-veg fare, if voted in. The issue has stuck like a rohu bone in the rival throat.

For, not mere table-staple, pheesh lies at the haart of Bengali kaalture.

To wit the saying, ‘Maachhe-bhaate Bangali’ , the Bengali is made of fish and rice. To counter this emotional pull, BJP has been singing its own ‘Song of the Gonga voteman’.

Candidates have brandished actual specimens, and sat down to photo-op maachh-bhaat meals. The star campaigners can’t do either, so they’ve found other pacifiers. PM-ji says he’ll turn the state into marine hub; Home mantri promises to stay out of the home.

This Katla-maachh Kurukshetra began not with a bang, but a ban.

Neighbour Bihar’s BJP-led coalition’s recent restrictions, on selling meat and fish near schools and temples, served up an opportunity on a banana leaf.

Never-miss Mamata grabbed it with both fists. By projecting it as saving regional identity/respect, from hurtling Hindi-heartland juggernaut, she’s cleverly turned this into an existential battle.

This neatly dove-tails into her ‘ Maa, mati, manush’ slogan, her rallying point, pointedly raised at rallies. It was fully exploited at yesterday’s Bengali New Year.

Will voters fall for it hook, line and ‘stinker’? Mishtir-dokaan goss says neither party will grind the other to shorshey bata, mustard paste. But Didi has undeniably caught a whopper. Of both slogan and strategy. Rohu etc is Bengal’s 4th ‘R’, along with Robindronath, revolution, rosogolla.

A whole raw fish arrives on the bride-welcoming tray; family’s social status is gauged from ‘ nambar of pheesh preparations’ at feast; offspring will listen rapt to Sukumar Ray’s whimsical ‘Maachher Raja’ ; adult football fan will celebrate an East Bengal team victory with steamed ilish.

Mohun Bagan groupies with chingdi malai curry.

Caught in a fishious circle, ruling TMC and wannabe BJP have been slugging it out gill and tail. Nishchoy, it will be a fight to the fin-ish.

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Alec Smart said: “If digital arrest doesn’t get you, SIR/CAA deletion will.”

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