Lucknow, Feb 27: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said his Republican Party of India (RPI) wants an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming polls in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, as also for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections.
He said talks will be held with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this evening over an alliance in the state, and also with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in due course.
“If the BJP leaves 8-10 seats, the RPI can be used to give a jolt to the BSP,” he said talking about Uttar Pradesh, claiming that people in the state are getting disenchanted with the Mayawati’s party and are shifting towards the RPI. On alliance in the poll-bound Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the RPI president said his party wants to contest these elections together with the BJP.
However, if it was not given seats by the BJP, the RPI would field its candidates on some seats and extend support to saffron party on the others, he said. He pointed out the Dalit constitutes 36 per cent population of West Bengal, and the BJP would benefit if RPI fights the election with it.
Athawale, whose RPI is a BJP ally at the Centre, said also praised the works done by Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Adityanath. Asked about any political understanding with Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, Athawale said Azad is an “independent person, but if he joins my party he will be given an important post”. The Dalit leader extended Azad and BSP president Mayawati invitations to join his party.
“If Mayawati comes, she would be given the post of the president of RPI and I will myself opt for the post of vice president as this is the party of Babasaheb (Bhimrao Ambedkar),” Athawale said.
When pointed out that the BJP was not inclined to give his party any seat, he said, “As of now, our organisation is not very strong but we are strengthening it at the district-level.” He also claimed that the BJP would be getting more than 200 seats in West Bengal.
“There is a resentment against the government in the state.” The NDA will form its government in four states and in Kerala too, it can succeed since people there are intending to hand over power to the BJP, he said. (PTI)
