BJP has shown it wants social change: Athawale

Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale today said that the fact that BJP offered him the votes needed for getting elected to Rajya Sabha, instead of putting up its own candidate, meant it really wanted a social change.

Athawale-led RPI faction is a part of the Sena-BJP led alliance in Maharashtra. BJP facilitated Athawale's election to upper house by offering votes from its quota in the recent Rajya Sabha election.

The alliance was for social change, the Dalit leader said, talking to reporters here.

The alliance would win about 35 Lok Sabha seats and 170 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, he said, adding that his party wanted to contest from 3 Lok Sabha and 30 Assembly seats.