BJP ally says his party was ignored in Maharashtra seat-sharing talks

Ramdas Athawale said he has sought Shirdi and Solapur seats in Maharashtra. (document)

Pune:

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said the ally Bharatiya Janata Party should give the Republican Party of India (A) at least two Lok Sabha seats to contest.

Mr. Atharwal said he had sought the Shirdi and Solapur seats in Maharashtra in February.

“But, unfortunately, the name of RPI(A) was nowhere to be seen in the seat-sharing process. New partners were given priority while my party, an ally of the BJP for 12 years, was ignored,” he claimed.

“Mahayuti (ruling alliance) was formed after RPI supported the BJP-Shiv Sena in the 2012 BMC elections. Mahayuti was not formed as Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar joined. RPI workers complained that the party was not being respected .They expressed this in today’s meeting,” he added.

If the BJP does not get two seats, then other options they (BJP) will offer should be reviewed, Atharwal said, adding that he will meet with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devender Fadnavis met to convey the views of party workers.

“We will demand a cabinet-level post from the RPI at the Center. In the state, they should give us a cabinet post, president posts of several federations and other posts. We will demand at least one MLC post and in the state elections There are at least 10 seats,” Mr Athawale said.

“RPI firmly supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, party workers feel that RPI has been insulted and I have been asked to take appropriate decisions. RPI has not been kept secret and the party has not been called to any meeting and There was no discussion on seat sharing with the party,” he claimed.

He claimed that the BJP has to take a decision on Shirdi Lok Sabha as the BJP can win, adding that his photo will not be taken with Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister Eknath · Shinde’s picture appeared on the alliance poster along with NCP’s Ajit Pawar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)