By Jonathan Allen
MUMBAI (Reuters) - A political party in Mumbai best knownfor its anti-immigrant rhetoric has decided to launch its ownchain of fast food stands, but with an ideological flavour thatcould stick in some throats.
Shiv Sena already has a powerful, dichotomous influenceover India's financial capital: it runs the city through itscontrol of the municipal authority, and its followershabitually paralyse parts of the city with rowdy protests.
Now, just as its supremacy is threatened by the risingprominence of an offshoot party, it wants to extend itsinfluence over arguably the most popular snack in a city thatseems to sustain itself on its street food -- namely vada pav.
"We're making a chain like McDonald's," said Sanjay Raut, aShiv Sena member of parliament, describing a move only a littleless unexpected of an Indian political party than if the U.S.Republican Party was to set up a hot dog franchise.
The snack may seem innocuous: a spiced potato ball fried inbatter -- the vada -- which arrives served in a bun, or pav.
But, with the right political seasoning, it becomes asymbol of the party's struggle against Mumbai's cosmopolitanessence.
Shiv Sena believes the city belongs to the Hindu Marathicommunity, less than half of all Mumbaikers, who share alanguage with the original fisher folk around whom thisbewildering metropolis mushroomed. All others are the city'sguests.
Many Parsis, Gujarati Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Christiansthat have played defining roles in this city since its colonialbeginnings disagree. So, too, do tens of thousands of migrantIndians who squeeze into Mumbai each year to seek theirfortune.
SONS OF THE SOIL
Regardless, Sanjay Gurav, the Shiv Sainik setting thescheme up, says only Marathis will be hired at Shiv vada pavstands, in keeping with the party's founding goal of protectingthe interests of the Marathi men it calls "sons of the soil".
And where a McDonald's server might wish a customer to havea nice day, Shiv vada pav vendors are expected to exclaim "JaiMaharashtra!", a Shiv Sena slogan meaning "Hail Maharashtra!",the Marathi-dominated state of which Mumbai is the capital.
"This is not a political movement, this is a socialmovement," said Raut, the Shiv Sena lawmaker, who hopes thescheme will provide much-needed jobs.
He did not go as far as the scheme's organiser in sayingnon-Marathis would not be hired. "In Mumbai, maximum sellersare Marathi, but if not Marathi, it's not a problem," Rautsaid.
"But this is the food of Marathi culture," he added.
Until recently, Shiv Sena had drifted from makingpro-Marathi noises as it tried to appeal to voters in otherstates. It instead focused on espousing Hindutva, thenationalist idea that India is an essentially Hindu societywith conservative values.
Its workers shifted from attacking city migrants todisrupting Valentine's Day balls, screenings of an art housemovie about lesbians and other perceived threats to Indianculture. It also reached out to various non-Marathicommunities.
But, in 2006, Raj Thackeray, the nephew of Shiv Senafounder Bal Thackeray, deserted the party to form theMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) or Maharashtra ReconstructionArmy. Once again, news channels ran pictures of non-Marathisbeing beaten in Mumbai's streets, this time by MNS workers.
Some see Shiv Sena returning to its roots as it tries tohang on to its Marathi votebank.
"Ever since Bal Thackeray's delinquent nephew set himselfup as his uncle's Mini-Me, Marathi chauvinism has returned toMaharashtra politics," Vir Sanghvi, a columnist, wrote in theHindustan Times on Sunday.
The party plans to launch the Shiv vada pav brand in June,and aims to soon have 5,000 franchisees across the city,heating up hygienic, uniform vada pavs prepared in a centralkitchen.
In India, at least, the notion that politics and fast foodcan mix is already catching on. At the weekend, the RepublicanParty of India, a small party based mainly in Maharashtra, saidit too would launch its own line of vada pavs.
(Editing by Alistair Scrutton and John Chalmers)
