RPI(A) threatens to quit alliance with Sena, BJP, if ignored

Says alliance can be kept intact only when the BJP and the Shiv Sena give them a fair share of seats

A day after results of Vasai-Virar municipal election were declared, the RPI(A) today threatened to part ways with the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) in other upcoming local body polls, if it was not given a fair share of seats by the BJP and Shiv Sena.

"We want to keep our alliance intact in the upcoming Kalyan-Dombivali, Thane and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai elections.

But, this can happen only when the BJP and the Shiv Sena give us a fair share of seats in the local body elections. If this does not happen, we will have to think of parting ways in these elections as well," RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale told reporters here.

"We had decided to part ways (with BJP and Sena) before the election as we were not given even a single seat to contest in the Vasai-Virar municipal election," he said.

However, the RPI (Athawale faction), led by Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale, had formed an alliance with Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) led by MLA Hitendra Thakur for the 115-member Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation earlier this month.

During the counting of votes yesterday, the BVA retained power in Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation by bagging 106 seats, decimating the Congress, BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena.

Voting was conducted for 111 seats as four corporators were elected unopposed, one of whom was from the RPI(A).

The Shiv Sena-BJP combine bagged just six seats (Sena - 5 and BJP-1), despite being in power at the Centre and in the state. Besides, the Independents won on 3 seats.