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If you elect them (BJP), they won’t even let you sell fish or meat in the markets. I respect vegetarians, but that doesn’t mean meat sales can be prohibited in Bengal." The statement may resonate deeply in Bengal, a state where the majority of the population is non-vegetarian. Not first time The Trinamool has earlier locked horns with the BJP over fish. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed Opposition leaders of "Mughal mentality" for consuming non-vegetarian food during Navratri. His comments came days after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's video of a fish meal in Patna surfaced online. Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress, had then alleged that PM Modi lacks understanding of the country’s diverse culture and food habits. “The PM said those who eat fish during this holy month are not devout Hindus. He said they are Mughals. My question to the PM, does he know that in our culture Durga Puja, Kali Puja rituals are not complete without 'maach' (fish), without 'mangshho' (meat) in many Hindu households,” said Banerjee. Last year, a political row broke out in April over the popular fish market in New Delhi’s Bengali-majority Chittaranjan Park. Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra alleged that individuals linked to BJP had threatened fish vendors to shut their shops near a temple. BJP leaders rejected the charge, accusing the Trinamool of twisting facts to stoke communal tensions. Importance of fish in Bengal West Bengal is India's second-largest fish-producing state after Andhra Pradesh.
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Moneycontrol•18-02-2026, 16:06

Bengal's Fish Politics: Mamata's Warning, BJP's Counter Ignites Election Debate

  • •West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warned that electing BJP could lead to bans on fish and meat sales, citing Bihar's decision.
  • •Fish is a cultural staple in Bengal, with over 80% of households consuming it, making the issue politically sensitive.
  • •Previous clashes include PM Modi's 'Mughal mentality' comment on non-vegetarian food during Navratri and a row over fish vendors in Delhi's Chittaranjan Park.
  • •West Bengal is India's second-largest fish producer, with 23.75 lakh tonnes produced in 2024-25, and the sector employs 32 lakh people.
  • •BJP countered, alleging Bengal imports fish despite its resources and highlighting no bans in BJP-ruled states, while TMC accused BJP of opportunistic course correction.
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