BJP housing minister Prakash Mehta has gone from tenant enemy No 1 to friend and ally, after he rolled back a proposal which had Mumbai's pagadi-paying set quiver and shiver. The proposal that was said to be under serious consideration by the housing department stated that pagadi tenants staying on rent should pay rent at current market rates. That meant that people would have to pay up to 200 times the amount they have been paying so far.

The proposed jump, mooted for residents and shop owners with establishments over a certain size, had pagadi tenants in SoBo up in arms. Politicians across lines held meetings to reiterate their support for tenants and there was a lot of political bombast, with MLAs shouting about how they are pro-tenant and will support tenants, come what may, even promising to resign if the proposal went through.