With the election date nearing, the candidates for the Lok Sabha are paying visits to the monthly meetings of various associations and groups.
Arvind Sawant, the member of parliament, from South Mumbai was recently spotted at Krishna Palace, Grant Road, attending the meeting of Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR). According to members of AHAR, other probable candidates and ex-MPs who are in fray for the elections have also approached them for a meeting.
There are about 20,000 restaurants in Mumbai, and AHAR is the apex body of most of these restaurants. The owners and employee strength of these restaurants crosses the 2 lakh figure and thus they become a prominent vote bank.
There are more 10 zones of AHAR in Mumbai, these zones are spread across the six Lok Sabha constituencies. Arvind Sawant visited the meeting of Zone 2, Grant Road.
Niranjan Shetty, vice president of Zone 2, who also happens to be a political leader from BJP, said, "AHAR is a non-political organisation. But with elections nearby, leaders, candidates and even sitting and ex MPs want to meet us. This helps us share our problems with them."
Shetty also claimed that leaders from other parties has also approached the local AHAR units to have a meeting. One of them is Sanjay Dina Patil, who is the NCP party candidate from Mumbai North East, while the BJP is yet to announce its candidature from this seat, Patil has begun his campaigning. He confirmed that he will be meeting AHAR representatives. 'We have been associated with AHAR for long time now, my relatives who own hotels are members of the organisation too. With elections approaching we do meet organisations like this to understand issues better and this meeting also would be on the same lines."
Every corner has one restaurant, and candidates during elections do not want to miss any opportunity that can help them defeat the opponent. These meeting are also held in order to get them in their favour.