Common Minimum Programme on cards

The Sena-BJP and RPI have decided to evolve a common minimum programme to counter the Congress-NCP ideological debate.

The Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athavale asked his supporters not to fall prey to the Congress-NCP’s ideological debate propped to arrest the Dalits exodus to Shiv Sena and BJP.

He exuded confidence of smooth working relations with the Sena-BJP alliance. The RPI chief has started deliberations with local Dalit leaders, smaller political factions dedicated to farmers and unorganised labourers across state to consolidate his support for the new alliance.

The two big problem areas for the RPI could be their differences with Shiv Sena over reservation policy and Hindutva. Sena chief Bal Thackeray has been a staunch opponent of the reservation policy and the Sena and BJP have always advocated the Hindutva ideology. They are working together to prepare a common minimum programme based on socio-economic issues.

According to noted dalit writer Arjun Dangle, “The shift to the Sena-BJP alliance is because of tremendous pressure from the dalit workers who feel terribly let down by Congress-NCP.”

Sources in the Congress-NCP admit, “Even if there is a shift of 4% dalit votes to Sena-BJP of the total 10.5%, it would adversely swing the poll out against Congress-NCP.”