We want to change the image of Indian politics, says Advani

Senior Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde on Sunday indicated that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is still willing to do business with the Republican Party of India (RPI). He revealed that the saffron alliance had offered the post of deputy chief minister to RPI president Ramdas Athavale in the last assembly election, and that the offer has not expired.

Munde made the statement at a function organised in Borivli to felicitate senior BJP leader Ram Naik on his 75th birthday. It assumes significance as it came in the presence of political bigwigs like BJP stalwart LK Advani, party president Nitin Gadkari, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, Ramdas Athavale and state NCP president Madhukar Pichad. No one from the Congress was present at the function, despite invitations.

“Athavale never speaks in our favour. We had given him an offer for the post of deputy CM in the last assembly election. He should think over it,” Munde said. Speaking before Munde, Athavale had said, “The SCs, STs and OBCs form 77% of the state’s population. If we come together, we can grab power. But it does not happen. The others do not allow us to come closer.” Athavale, who belongs to the scheduled caste, was referring to Munde, an OBC, and Pichad, who comes from a scheduled tribe.

Advani expressed hope that if young politicians follow Naik’s example, society’s attitude towards politicians will be transformed. “People do not respect politicians. We are working to change this image. If young politicians accept Naik as their role model, this will change,” he said.