Don’t be surprised if you find owners of non-vegetarian joints grinning from ear to ear within the next few weeks. For, the aroma of elections is already wafting across the country and what would the festival of democracy be without a dash of hot biriyani?
“You can expect sale of chicken and mutton biriyani, parottas, chicken and vegetable fried rice, chicken 65, egg omelettes and other items to pick up gradually and peak during the final stages of election campaign,” the owner of a non-veg eatery at Guduvanchery said.
Recalling the Assembly election campaign in 2011, he said, “I usually open my shop in the evening and sell an average of 30 kg chicken biriyani on a weekday. The figure goes up to 50 to 60 kg during weekends and festivals. During the election season, I sell 60 kg on weekdays and 90 to 100 kg on weekends. Besides, I get orders during meetings of party activists and for public meetings.”
Chicken 65 is a much sought after commodity. Its sale doubles during elections, he pointed out, adding that he had already mobilised funds to scale up his stock of chicken, meat, onions and other ingredients.
“I also require more people to serve the customers who arrive in groups. Besides, more workers are needed to weigh and pack the items. I have called a few relatives to help me,” he said with a smile.
“My range of dishes is comparatively small. There are shops that prepare vegetarian fried rice, chicken fried rice, parottas and omelettes. I am sure, the sale will be higher in other non-veg hotels as well,” he said. The owner of another non-veg hotel at Chengalpattu agreed that the sale of all items, including mutton biriyani and fried fish, will be higher than normal.
Sundar, an employee at a hotel on Singaperumal Koil area, said his workload would be very heavy during election season. “By and by, sale will pick up. I will need more people to help me. I have asked my owner to get more people. I have also asked for more materials to prepare parottas, kuruma and omelettes. After a I few weeks, I will have no time to even talk to you.”