Patil insulates NCP from fallout

RR Patil, the deputy chief minister and home minister, has ensured that the monk-death does not spiral out of control or affect his party’s ally Republican Party of India (RPI) – the Athawale faction.

Handling the situation carefully was important for Patil’s party and its ally because both the parties are scheduled to hold huge Dalit rallies in the coming days. A major chunk of Dalit votes — people disillusioned with all the factions of RPI — have shifted to NCP over the past seven years. People close to Patil, however, denied any political motive behind Patil’s way of tackling the issue in the state and Mumbai in particular. “It is unfair to make political connotation to the action. He (Patil) does not mix his constitutional duties with politics,” one of his supporter said.

NCP is, however, gearing up for the Dalit rally scheduled to be held at Parbhani on February 9. “Though there is no major agenda or issue, we are holding this rally for organisational growth and to spread the party’s ideology among Dalits.

Workers from all districts will participate in the rally,” Arun Gujarathi said. The RPI-Athwale faction will hold a rally of Dalits in Mumbai on January 17. The rallies of NCP and RPI-Athawale are a result of the huge Dalit rally of Mayawati’s BSP held at Shivaji Park on November 25, 2007.

As Mayawati gets stronger in national politics she has also been attempting to spread her wings in Maharashtra. And this has sent alarm bells ringing for political parties in the state.

The monk’s death has, however, upset various parties’ plans as they had been eyeing the Dalit votebank. “Had Patil handled this issue a little carelessly, it would have affected the party’s Dalit vote base,” a source close to state unit president Arun Gujrathi said.