Day after PM Narendra Modi tasted it, ‘litti-chokha’ politics plays out in poll-bound Bihar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s dream of seeing at least one Bihari dish on the plates of every Indian came true as PM Narendra Modi took ‘litti-chokha’ national when he tasted the dish at Hunar Haat in New Delhi on Wednesday.
PM’s sampling of the Bihari delicacy grabbed headlines and generated political heat in Patna evoking sharp reactions from opposition politicians and lauded by ruling NDA leaders.

Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi took to Twitter on Thursday to praise the PM. “It was a coincidence that when PM Narendra Modi was having litti-chokha in New Delhi’s Hunar Haat, the state government officials were busy in deliberations to make the dream to have a Bihari dish in every citizen’s platter a reality and devising ways to increase the income of farmers in the state.”
PM’s sampling of the Bihari delicacy grabbed headlines and generated political heat in Patna (Photo: Twitter handle of PM Narendra Modi)
SuMo’s tweet was in reference to Nitish’s statement in December 2010 in which he had said, “I dream of a day when every people in this nation will have at least one food item in their dish or kitchen from Bihar.”

But former CM and HAM (S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi said, “Is this an announcement of the state assembly poll in Bihar due later this year?... Under such circumstances, it (PM tasting the dish) has its political interference.” he said, adding, he is also fond of litti-chokha.

Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, too, took to twitter. “Thank you respected PM for liking famous Bihari delicacy!” He added: “Since Bihar CM can’t talk, I would like to draw your attention towards Bihar’s legitimate share pending quite long.” However, his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav tweeted in chaste Bhojpuri, “Katano khaee ba litti chokha, Bihari na bhuli dhokha.”
The politics of ‘litti-chokha’ can’t be complete without a mention of former CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Lalu, who is at present serving sentence in fodder scam cases, is among the admirers of this Bihari delicacy. “Lalu had said a day after Nitish parted ways from Mahagathbandhan in 2017 that two things have become famous in the country— Bihar Ka litti-chokha aur Nitish Ka ‘dhokha’ (betrayal),” a senior RJD functionary Mohammad Shami Ahmad said.
“He (Lalu) played a good host during winters and enjoyed ghee-laced litti-chokha. He was of the opinion that ‘isme milawat ki jungayish hi nahi hai’, the RJD leader, once considered close to Lalu family, said.
Litti-chokha has been a favourite dish not only for politicians but also for Bollywood stars. Actor Amir Khan had litti-chokha at a roadside stall near Patna zoo during the promotion of his movie ‘Ghajini’. Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha had also tasted it during promotion of their film ‘Son of Sardar’.
“One of the major reasons behind the popularity of litti-chokha is its price. Besides, it contains ‘sattu’ which keeps the stomach cool and the same time full during scorching summer heat,” said Ramesh Yadav, a seller at Patna Junction.