Uddhav Thackeray’s pet scheme of Shiv Vada Pav was cleared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday, thanks to the generous support of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The BMC gave its final approval for the 125 handcarts, on which the branded and standardised recipe of the common man’s burger will be sold from May 1.

The ruling Sena-BJP combine was also able to keep at bay the Congress demand for an equal number of Kaanda Pohe stalls. The Sena and the MNS have been opposing each other in the civic body ever since the latter made an entry into the civic corridors in the 2007 election. The MNS, however, clarified that the support to the Sena is limited to the vada pav scheme.

When the proposal for the final approval for allowing space for 125 handcarts under the scheme and 215 stalls under Annadata Aahar Kendra came up at the general body meeting — where all the 227 corporators give their sanction — the MNS extended its support to the Sena-BJP proposal. The stalls will be given on lease for 10 years as against the earlier plan of five years.

MNS leader Rajendra Lad said his party supports the Shiv Vada Pav scheme. “The scheme will generate employment for the sons of soil and Marathi manoos.” He said people should be provided hot and piping vada pavs at the spot and not cold food items. As per the proposal, the stall owner cannot make food items at the stall; he/she can only sell cooked food.

“If the Congress wants stalls for Kaanda Pohe, it should go through the administrative procedures that the Sena has gone for Shiv Vada Pav and get a new proposal. We will all support the demand then,” said Sena leader Ravindra Waikar. He said the Shiv Vada Pav stalls can sell kaanda pohe too.

All in the name
When the NCP objected to the use of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s name for a food item, municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak said ‘Shiv’ denotes ‘nirmal’ (pure) from the devotional phrase ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. However, BJP corporator Ashish Shellar said the party supports the Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Vada Pav scheme and not the BMC’s ‘nirmal’ scheme.