A new political controversy has emerged in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming state elections after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that beef consumption would be prohibited if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state. Speaking at an election rally in Cooch Behar, Sarma said that while other meats would remain allowed, beef eating would not be permitted under a BJP government. His remarks have sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has long accused the BJP of intending to interfere with Bengal’s food culture, warning that the party’s vegetarian image could lead to restrictions on local dietary traditions. Sarma countered that TMC was spreading confusion, noting that in Assam, where the BJP has governed for years, there is no general ban on meat consumption. He emphasized that the proposed restriction would apply only to beef and cattle smuggling, citing Hindu religious beliefs that regard cows as sacred.

Political analysts suggest the statement reflects a strategy to appeal to religious sentiments without directly confronting Bengal’s non-vegetarian culture, making food habits a key election issue alongside development and employment.