'Thali' politics: Maha BJP launches 'Deendayal' thali for Rs 30 to take on Aghadi's 'Shiv Bhojan Thali'

In a bid to counter ruling Shiv Sena's politics of subsidised food, opposition BJP in Maharashtra on Tuesday launched its own cheap lunch plate on occasion of death anniversary of Jana Sangh leer Deendayal Uphyaya.

Priced at Rs 30, "Deendayal Thali" will have more items than Rs 10 "Shiv Bhojan Thali", which was launched by Sena-led state government on January 26 to cater to poor.

Lunch plate was launched in Pandharpur

"Deendayal" lunch plate includes three chapatis, a bowl of rice, two vegetables, peanut chutney and mango pickle while "Shivbhojan" thali comes with two chapatis, a vegetable (100 gm), 150 gms of rice, and a bowl of dal. BJP has roped in women self-help groups (SHGs) affiliated to saffron party, for thali scheme. lunch plate was launched in temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district. It will be me available across state later, a BJP leer said.

"Deendayal thali" centre in Pandharpur is set up near famous temple of Lord Vitthal. It was inaugurated by former minister Subhash Deshmukh.

'BJP has habit of copying such popular schemes'

Speaking in Mumbai, Maharashtra Textiles Minister and Congress leer Aslam Shaikh said BJP has "habit of copying such popular schemes launched by ors". Refuting criticism, BJP spokesperson Mhav Bhandari said saffron party h in past introduced "Atal thali scheme".

Sena-led state government h launched cheap lunch plate scheme for poor on January 26 on a pilot basis.