'Vada Pav' caught in political tug-of-war

Mumbai, May 13 (UNI) The ''Vada Pav'', a favourite Maharashtrian food item, though of doubtful nutrition value, is caught in a political tug-of-war between the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Both the parties have pounced upon the ''Vada Pav'' to project the unfortunate food item as a rich source of employment for the sons-of-the-soil.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has vociferously advocated that the ''Marathi manoos'' should take up selling ''Vada Pavs'', ''pani-pooris'', and milk distribution. At a recent function, Mr Thackeray even suggested that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should allot stalls to the ''Vada Pav'' sellers.

Now it is the turn of the Shiv Sena. The party plans to launch ''Shiv Vada Pav'' in true corporate style in Mumbai, Thane and other places. The party has deputed Sanjay Gurav to oversee this task.

The ''Vada Pav'' has always been a good ''food for thought'' for the Shiv Sena. When the party was formed in the sixties to fight for the Maharashtrian cause, many of its activists took to selling ''Vada Pav'' for ten paise in those days.

The Shiv Sena had also promoted ''zunka-bhakar'' in a big way but the scheme failed to evoke much response.

UNI JM MAZ GL NS1602