A BJP-candidate in poll-bound Assam claimed that “beef is the ‘National Dish’ of India.” Banendra Kumar Mushahary, BJP candidate from Gauripur constituency claimed that Beef is the national food of India, throwing the saffron party into an embarrassing chaos of protests.

Election Commission of India has taken a strong exception to BJP’s candidate from Gauripur constituency, Banendra Kumar Mushahary, for his “beef is national dish” remark. The ECI has filed an FIR against BJP candidate Mushahary at the Gauripur Police Station.

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While the saffron party has been rabble-rousing over Hindutvavad, over the last 6-7 years which had led to lynching of people from minority community based mostly on mere doubts of cattle-smuggling, by cow-vigilantes, its leaders are now caught flummoxed over the comment of Banendra Kumar Mushahary.

Pandering to the minority community, he put forth a rhetoric, “How can anyone try to ban beef? It is the National Dish of India.” Banendra had joined BJP last year and was trying to woo the minority voters. He further added, “Beef is an international dish. Educated Muslims in the rural areas of Assam should understand that no one can ban the sale of beef in Assam or anywhere in India.”

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Members of Purbanchal Hindu Aikya Mancha have registered an FIR against the leader at Dispur Police Station, Guwahati.  Banendra Kumar Mushahary, a Bodo leader, was first elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1996 as an independent candidate from Gauripur constituency in Dhubri district. He was also associated with the Asom Gana Parishad.

During elections, the best place for ideologies and principles is in fact in the gutter, because the ultimate thing that matters for the leaders is the number of votes, irrespective of whether the leaders are hurting the sentiments of any community or pandering to any other community. Case of  Mushahary highlights this aspect of Indian electoral polity.

The elections in Assam will be held in three phases and it will begin on March 27, with the vote counting and declaration of results scheduled on May 02.