Athavale to be on-screen home minister

MUMBAI: Republican Party of India leader and Member of Parliament Ramdas Athavale will play the role of home minister in the Marathi film Jakhmi Police 302.
    
The RPI leader recently did a shoot for the film at Pandharpur, his constituency in western Maharashtra. The shoot had him addressing a press conference as Maharashtra home minister and warning stringent action against policemen indulging in crimes, like rape.
    
"Producer Vijaysinh Pawar is a friend. He requested me to play the role. It is a small role that will require a couple of more schedules," Athavale said from Aurangabad, where he is attending a state-level
meeting of the RPI.
    
Asked if he was trying to fulfill his real life ministerial ambition through reel life, Athavale said, "I deserve a berth in the United Progressive Alliance ministry and am hopeful that I will get it."
    
"This Pawar (film producer) has made me a minister. Even that Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar, whose party Athavale supports) wants to make me a minister," he said.
    
"The tragedy is that the Congress feels I support only the NCP,  although I support both parties", Athavale, two-term MP from Pandharpur, said.