The Republican Party of India (A), an ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, today released a list of 58 candidates for Uttar Pradesh polls and said the party will field its own nominees, but it "does not want to harm" BJP's prospects.
"We do not want to harm BJP... We want them to benefit in the elections... BSP chief Mayawati thinks it has a right over Dalit votes. We also want to claim our right," RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale said here while releasing the list candidates.
On whether he is fielding candidates to damage BSP's prospects in the polls, the Union Minister said he wants to open his party's account in Uttar Pradesh.
"We will not cut into BSP, but will merely take our votes," Athawale said.
Attacking the ruling Samajwadi Party, he said, "It has been embroiled in a tussle between the father and the son... The party did not fulfil the promises it made in the 2012 polls. Efforts to align with Congress only proves that it has been unsuccessful."
Promising full security to the people of Uttar Pradesh living in Mumbai and Maharashtra, Athawale said his party will not allow the "high handedness" of Raj Thackeray and the rule of law will prevail there.
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