“Amit Shah has announced his decision to spend 15 days in Bengal. Nice. Bengal welcomes tourists with open arms. Stay as long as you want. And don’t miss out on some of our best cuisine,” the party said.“We highly recommend: Muri Ghonto, Pabda Macher Jhal, Ilish Bhapa, Chingri Malai Curry, Bhetki Paturi, Kosha Mangsho. Have a nice rest!” it added.This is in line with TMC’s campaign pitch, which presents the BJP as out of touch with the cultural traditions of Bengal. The controversy started when senior TMC leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, criticized it as a BJP-backed move against non-vegetarian food habits. The comment was linked to the Bihar government’s recent order regulating open sale of meat.Addressing a rally, Banerjee had said, “I have received a report about the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar saying that fish and meat cannot be sold in the open market. This is anti-people and condemnable. Can everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? What will happen to the majority of people selling fish and meat on the road? What about their livelihood? Such politics is condemnable.”“If BJP comes to power, they will ban meat and fish in Bengal. I saw the Deputy CM of Bihar saying that fish and meat cannot be sold in the open market. Only those who have a license can sell meat indoors. So will everyone sell meat and fish in shopping malls? Only a few people have the economic power to do so. Most of the fish vendors sell fresh fish on the streets here. This is how they earn their bread. I condemn this politics,” she further alleged.Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said people in Bengal are free to eat food of their choice and clarified that the party only opposes the open sale of beef.Responding to the allegations, Bhattacharya said, “People in Bengal will eat whatever they want. Bengal will have its own fish and meat,” rejecting TMC’s claims of a proposed ban on open sale of fish and meat in the neighboring state.Elaborating on the Bihar directive, he said the BJP has not proposed any kind of blanket ban. “They can never say such a thing. Why should they say that? No one will accept it. TMC is twisting the comments,” he said.Elections for 294 seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases – April 23 (152 constituencies) and April 29 (142) – with results to be declared on May 4, in what is expected to be a tough fight between TMC and BJP.