BJP Sends Jalebis to Rahul Gandhi in Celebration of Political Victory

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated a noteworthy political victory by sending jalebis, a traditional Indian sweet, to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi. This gesture followed the party’s unexpected triumph when exit polls had predicted a win for the Congress in the state. Despite early celebrations by Congress supporters, the BJP managed to secure a successful comeback, marking a hat-trick in the state elections.

BJP supporters used the sweets to mock the Congress, with the term ‘jalebi’ becoming a trend on social media. Videos and images emerged of BJP leaders consuming jalebis, while others shared photos of cooking the sweet. In one instance, a Haryana BJP member shared a screenshot of a food delivery order, showing a kilogram of jalebis being ordered from Bikanervala, a well-known sweets shop in Delhi’s Connaught Place, to be delivered to Gandhi’s address on 24, Akbar Road.

The gesture was accompanied by a caption from the Haryana BJP, stating, “On behalf of all the workers of Bharatiya Janata Party Haryana, jalebi has been sent to Rahul Gandhi’s home.” However, the screenshot’s authenticity could not be independently verified. The BJP used this opportunity to not only celebrate but also to take jibes at Gandhi, who had previously praised the jalebis from Haryana’s Gohana area, advocating they be marketed globally.

Rahul Gandhi, during a political campaign, had remarked that jalebis from Gohana should be manufactured and sold broadly to enhance employment and revenue. He also commented on the challenges jalebi sellers face due to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed by the central government.

In response to Gandhi’s statements, BJP leaders, including former Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, criticized him for misunderstanding the preparation of jalebis. Prasad highlighted Gandhi’s lack of knowledge about the traditional sweet, noting that they are not factory-made.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referenced jalebis in a campaign speech, questioning the opposition INDIA bloc‘s supposed proposal to rotate the Prime Minister’s position annually, drawing an analogy with the sweet treat. Gohana jalebis, known for their rich taste, were first made by local businessman Matu Ram in 1958, and the enterprise is now run by his grandsons.