Visitors to Powai can take their pick from three politically-flavoured vada pav stalls started by the Shiv Sena, Congress and the Swabhiman Sanghatnau00a0

The u00a0humble vada pav suddenly has plenty of political suitors. Both the Nitesh Rane-led Swabhiman Sanghatna and the Congress under MLA Naseem Khan have jumped onto the vada pav bandwagon hitherto monopolised by the Shiv Sena. And the result is that visitors to Powai can now choose between the Sena vada pav, the Chhatrapati vada pav sold in a stall right next to it, and the Apang Rozgar vada pav promoted by Khan. Interestingly, however, all three stalls are illegal.


Food Fight:u00a0Powai has become the battleground for vada pav
wars as the Swabhiman Sanghatna, led by Nitesh Raneu00a0u00a0

After Sena executive chief Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the Shiv vada pav centre at the Powai Nisarga Udyan on June 29, Congress leader Narayan Rane's younger son Nitesh made it a point to open a Chhatrapati vada pav stall right next to it.


Naseem Khan from the Congress

Not to be outdone, local Congress MLA Naseem Khan, who is also the Mumbai Suburban district Guardian Minister, opened a vada pav stall close to Hiranandani Gardens on a MHADA plot. The Apang Rozgar Vada Pav Centre has a banner with Khan's picture on it and states that the minister opened it to give employment to disabled youth.


Shiv Sena's Nisarga vada pav stall are all vying for customers
and trying to lure foodies to the same spot at Powai.
Pics/Sameer Markande

Meanwhile, after inaugurating the Chhatrapati Vada Pav Centre, which does not have a BMC licence, Nitesh Rane lambasted the Sena over its illegal Shiv Vada Pav stall at the Nisarg Udyan. "The BMC administration doesn't have the authority to permit any such stalls in the absence of rules. The Sena's Vada Pav stalls violate rules and, after the Supreme Court verdict banning cooking on city streets, the stalls were not approved by the BMC Standing Committee. If the BMC plans to demolish our illegal stalls, they will have to first demolish all the vada pav stalls sponsored by the Sena," said Rane.

He also announced the opening of many more Vada Pav stalls across the city under his organisation's aegis.
It will now be interesting to see what action the BMC takes against the stalls run by all three parties.