PUPPETS OF POLITICS: THE 'SWEET' BATTLE OF POLITICS by Bidita Chanda.

Sweets of different political parties selling like hot cakes.

Source: Al Jazeera 

During the fierce war of who was going to win the land of roshogolla, the sweet shops were coming up with some interesting and creative ways to help people support these parties. Be it, sweets, with political slogans written on them or 'sweet' statuettes of PM Modi, Mamata, they were gaining popularity among the masses. 

Balaram Mallick Radharaman Mallick, one of the iconic sweet shops of Kolkata launched a Sandesh with the two slogans written on them, “Khela Hobe" vs “Jai Shri Ram". While “Khela Hobe" was written on the Sandesh in white and green, the “Jai Shri Ram" Sandesh was in white and orange. “Khela Hobe", meaning “Game On", a slogan first given by Trinamool Congress as many of its leaders switched to the BJP, pitching Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against all the opposition faces. The slogan became popular with a pop version of it being played at TMC rallies and hoardings coming up across West Bengal. The opposition parties also launched their own versions of the slogan, making it a flavor of the poll season. 

Sweets resembling the major political party symbols. 
Source: AFP

Another prominent sweet shop, Felu Modak in Rishra, which had previously launched delicacies themed on popular political campaigns, was also selling such desserts. There were three types of Sandesh with the “Khela Hobe" slogan — in white, green, and orange. Voting is the best festival of democracy. So Rasraj, a confectionery store in Kolejpara, Raiganj made sweets with the symbols of different political parties to welcome the great festival. There were a variety of delicious sweets with slogans like "Khela Beh", "Tumpa Sona" and even "Sonar Bangla”. 

The fierce political contest in Bengal found a reflection in a sweet shop in Howrah. It made 'sweet" statuettes of top campaigners from three major parties and alliances in the election - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and three leaders of Sanjukta Morcha. 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was campaigning in a wheelchair due to injury sustained in Nandigram and her statuette in the sweet shop accurately portrayed her. The statuette of PM Modi showed him wearing a half-kurta with the BJP symbol of Lotus. The Sanjukta Morcha includes the Left, Congress and Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the shop have portrayed them together through a three-headed statuette. 

Even though the competition and the campaigns were reaching new levels, these sweet shops didn’t miss a beat and came up with something creative and attractive in no time. It also symbolizes that how much these political leaders diss each other the sweetness of it all is preserved in mishtis and Sandesh.

Sweets Statuettes.

Source: India Today