RPI announces alliance with BJP for BMC elections

Amid speculation over an alliance between the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections to be held next month, the Republican Party of India (RPI), headed by Ramdas Athawale, announced its their alliance with the BJP on Wednesday.

RPI (A)’s state president Bopesh Kulkarni informed the media on Wednesday that in a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, it was decided that RPI (A) will contest in alliance with the BJP for the 10 municipal corporations and 26 zilla parishad elections to be held next month. However, the number of seats RPI (A) will share in the alliance will be declared soon, Kulkarni added.

“The Shiv Sena and BJP’s alliance for the upcoming civic elections is not yet declared. But RPI (A) has decided to be in alliance with BJP. We still are not sure if Shiv Sena is joining, but if the Sena comes in alliance we welcome them,” said Kakasaheb Khambalkar, National Vice-President of RPI (A).

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance for the civic elections is expected to declared on Wednesday after a meeting of the party leaders.