'RPI will remain with Mahayuti despite its oppn to Hindutva'

RPI leader Ramdas Athawale today said that his party would continue to be a part of 'Mahayuti' alliance despite differences with Shiv Sena on the issues of "Hindutva" and "reservation" only to defeat ruling combine of Congress and NCP.
'Mahayuti' or the grand alliance comprising Shiv Sena, BJP and Republican Party of India (Athawale) was formed ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections held last year.
"The Mahayuti can be based on a common minimum programme. Even in the Sharad Pawar-led Progressive Democratic Front(PDF) government in the state, BJP leaders were part of the ministry," Athawale told reporters.
The Dalit leader was referring to Sharad Pawar pulling down the Congress government of Vasantdada Patil in 1978 and forming the PDF to become the youngest chief minister of Maharashtra.

"RPI's alliance with the saffron combine is on the issues of corruption, price rise and atrocities against dalits during the Congress-NCP rule," he said.
Athawale said that he would soon meet Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and BJP leader Gopinath Munde and impress upon them the need to form a co-ordination committee of the three parties at the earliest to discuss seat-sharing for 2014 assembly and general elections, so that RPI can go ahead with selection of candidates.

"It is the duty of Shiv Sena and BJP to give strength to RPI because without us, they can not come to power. RPI, which has taken a big risk by joining the saffron combine, should be accommodated in such a way that it can win at least two Lok Sabha seats," Athawale said.

He said that RPI was interested to contest Lok Sabha seats like Ramtek in Vidarbha, Latur in Marathwada, South-Central Mumbai, Kalyan, Pune to name a few.
Athawale said that Sena and BJP can collectively cede at least 35 assembly seats from their respective quotas for his party.