DARJEELING: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has, in the past, surprised many with her dance moves and paintings, on Friday won over the โQueen of Hillsโ by showcasing her culinary skills.
Many in the hill town were left surprised to see the 67-year-old Trinamool Congress supremo preparing momos, the staple food of North Bengal, at a roadside food stall run by a woman.
Onlookers were left in awe seeing their chief minister effortlessly kneading the dough and stuffing the dumplings. Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to Darjeeling, was engrossed in the conversation with the lady shop owner as she cooked the popular hill food.
โToday I made momos during my morning walk in Darjeeling,โ she said, describing the time spent with the stall owner as โspecial moments with my peopleโ
She added, โDarjeeling will always have my heart and I salute the hard-working people of our Hills who make every visit so memorable.โ
Banerjee earlier earned accolades from locals for โpuchkasโ or golgappas during her ongoing stay.
Anil Rongpa, a local who witnessed her preparing momos, said, โIt was so good to see the CM cooking momos for common people. She just went to a random shop and started preparing. She also made puchkas for us.โ
โThis is a lovely gesture,โ he said, smiling.
Banerjee is in Darjeeling to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the 45 newly-elected members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Trinamool Congress (TMC) has made a debut in the GTA election this year which was held after a decade.
