India, July 10 -- After Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad kicked up a fuss about the alleged poor quality of food served to him at the Akashwani MLA Hostel's canteen, and rained blows on the canteen manager Yogesh Puthran, reacting to the stale daal on the platter on Tuesday night, I decided to check out the vegetarian thaali served for lunch at the hostel myself the next day.

This was not my first time dining at the canteen. In fact, the canteen's common hall has been known to feed the public for years. The food is affordable and service quick. The cashier told me most office goers in the vicinity of Mantralaya come here regularly.

The canteen has two sections - an airconditioned section for VIPs and MLAs and a non-airconditioned section for...