Sena ropes in McDonald to sponsor vendors meet

PUNE: Upping the culinary dimension of its politics, the Shiv Sena has roped in McDonald to sponsor a convention of the prospective 'Shiv Vadapav' vendors in Mumbai, the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' announced on Sunday.

"An organisation of Vadapav vendors in Mumbai is being floated under the auspices of the Shiv Sena and the interested people should enroll their names at Sena Bhavan starting next week," the paper said in the front page lead story.

"The convention to be held next month in the metropolis will deliberate on the standard formula to make the 'Shiv Vadapav' before it hits the stalls and the salient feature of the gathering is the sponsorship of McDonald's," Sunday's announcement said.

When the Working President of the Sena Uddhav Thackeray came out with the plan to vend 'Shiv Vadapav' some time back, the move drew flak from the state Deputy Chief minister and NCP leader R R Patil who said it would belittle the name and image of the Maratha warrior king Shivaji, the pride of Maharashtra.

The Sena had vehemently countered the criticism saying its Supremo Bal Thackeray had encouraged the sale of the spicy popular Maharashtrian snack 40 years ago as a means of earning livelihood for unemployed Marathi youths.
"Thousands of families are depending on Vadapav business and in view of this, Uddhav Thackeray had taken initiative to make this Maharashtrian specialty snack popular at international level. A meeting was held with McDonald's CMD Amit Jetiya and he readily accepted the suggestion to associate with the Shiv Vada venture," Saamana said.