IndiGo flyers raise Jai Shri Ram slogans, clip viral amid BJP's Bengal sweep

Soon after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results were announced, a video surfaced online showing a man raising “Jai Shri Ram” and other religious slogans with fellow passengers inside an IndiGo flight.

The now widely-circulated clip showed the man, believed to be from West Bengal, recording himself inside the aircraft while chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” “Har Har Mahadev,” “Jai Bangal,” and “Jai Durga." As he lifted his hand in the air and continued chanting, several passengers seated around him were seen smiling, laughing, and joining in as well.

The video surfaced shortly after the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were declared on May 4. According to the final tally, the BJP secured a historic victory in the state, winning 207 out of 294 seats and crossing the majority mark of 148. The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, was reduced to 80 seats after being in power since 2011.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the IndiGo flight appeared celebratory, with more passengers gradually echoing the slogans as the video progressed. The man continued panning the camera across the aircraft aisle while chanting loudly, with fellow travellers visibly reacting to the moment.

Watch the video here:

The video has triggered diverse reactions on social media. A section of social media users found the moment energetic and symbolic of the charged mood following the election results. Several users said the passengers looked genuinely happy and described the clip as a spontaneous celebration of democracy and political change in the state.

However, many others criticised the incident, arguing that commercial flights were shared public spaces where political sloganeering could make other passengers uncomfortable.

Some users questioned whether such chants would still be considered acceptable if they supported a different political party or ideology, calling for consistency in public reactions.

Others pointed out that while celebrations after election victories were common, bringing political slogans into confined spaces like flights could potentially create tension among passengers with differing views.

A few users also raised concerns about the growing overlap between political expression and everyday public spaces, saying videos like this proved how polarised political discussions in India had become.

The results marked the BJP’s first-ever victory in West Bengal and one of the biggest political shifts in the state in decades. However, violence has marred the post-election atmosphere, with reports of arson, vandalism, and murder emerging from multiple parts of the state despite a decisive electoral outcome.

In West Bengal, voting for the 294-member assembly took place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with a reported voter turnout of over 92 percent.