RPI threatens to walk out of saffron alliance if seat share not increased

In an indication of cracks in the Shiv Sena-BJP’s rainbow coalition, the Ramdas Athavale-led Republican Party of India (RPI) has threatened to walk out if it is not allocated an adequate number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in the elections.

The RPI has also demanded a Rajya Sabha seat from the saffron alliance, apart from an assurance that it will get the deputy chief minister’s post in case of an electoral victory.

Athavale, a former MP and a Dalit leader with a strong mass base in Maharashtra, cut his teeth in politics as the leader of the militant Dalit Panthers that once fought pitched battles with the Shiv Sena. After his defeat from Shirdi in the Lok Sabha polls due to alleged sabotage by the Congress, Athavale broke his almost two decade-long affiliation with the Congress and NCP to join hands with the Shiv Sena and BJP.

Speaking to dna, Athavale said, “If we are not given (proper) seats, we will have to think differently.”

However, he added that “this will not happen as Uddhavji (Sena president Uddhav Thackeray) is a sensible man and as Gopinath Munde holds the reigns of the BJP.” He added that they were willing to settle for three Lok Sabha seats.
He said they aimed at getting two Lok Sabha seats for becoming a recognised party.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader said, “These are pressure tactics,” and the posturing was meant to satisfy RPI workers that the leadership was not to be taken for a ride by the saffron alliance.