Political 'bhel puri' signals the return of hawkers

The hawker menace is likely to escalate in the city in the coming months, thanks to the culinary battles being staged between political parties.

After the Shiv Sena came up with the Shiv Vada Pav scheme to extend its reach among unemployed Marathi voters, and the Congress countered it by serving up the kanda poha recipe, the BJP, not wanting to be left out, now wants the BMC to consider its demand of setting up dabeli and pav bhaji stalls.

While the general body of the municipal corporation on Wednesday approved a proposal for the allotment of 125 handcarts for Shiv Vada, the civic administration, led by commissioner Phatak, has also given an in-principle nod for permitting an equal number of kanda poha stalls, a demand pressed for by the Congress. The BJP now wants Phatak to serve their recipe in equal proportion too.

The Sena indicates its stand after the civic administration suggested modification to the original Shiv Vada proposal based on objections raised by the Congress and the NCP. Phatak said that the administration was ready to allocate 59 among the 125 stalls, initially proposed to be distributed to vada pav vendors, to kanda poha stalls. He also clarified that the stalls would be allocated on leave and license basis instead of the originally proposed lease basis.

Sena leader Ravindra Waikar asked the administration to formulate a separate proposal for 125 kanda poha stalls.

If Phatak gives in, the city will see at least 375 handcarts selling food, from May 1.