However, leaders of this 'Republican Janshakti Aghadi' have sought a share of seats from the opposition alliance, failing which they have threatened to contest on their own
Smarting under the onslaught of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), the Congress-NCP may have some respite during the forthcoming state assembly elections, with leaders of the Republican Party of India (RPI) forging a front to ally with them.
However, leaders of this 'Republican Janshakti Aghadi' have sought a share of seats from the opposition alliance, failing which they have threatened to contest on their own. "This is a front of RPI factions," said MLC Jogendra Kawade, who heads his Peoples Republican Party (PRP). He added this front would include Nanasaheb Indise of the RPI-Ektawadi, who has a base in Thane, former minister Gangadhar Gade of Republican Panthers, Dr Rajendra Gavai (RPI- Gavai), and other RPI factions. "The RPI is the political ideology of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. However, some parties are trying to finish it off. We are willing to ally with the Congress and NCP," said Kawade, a MLC from the Congress quota.
He added that however, if the front, which has submitted a list of 46 seats across Maharashtra, to the Congress and NCP leadership, would fight on its own, if their demand for a "respectable share" was not agreed to.
In the Lok Sabha elections, VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar, tied up with the All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by the Owaisi brothers, and is blamed by the Congress and NCP for their defeat on at least seven seats, in addition to a seat won by the AIMIM. Prakash Ambedkar, has reached out to sections in the 'Bahujan Samaj' like the smaller OBCs through his Akola pattern of social engineering. The VBA- AIMIM alliance is expected to make a dent in the "secular" vote base, admit Congress leaders.
VOTE BANK
- In Maharashtra, the Muslims form around 10.6% of the population, the Dalits are around 14%, with the Buddhists, accounting for about 8%.
- VBA- AIMIM alliance is expected to make a dent in the "secular" vote base, admit Cong leaders
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