New Delhi [India], September 30 : The Republican Party Of India (RPI) (A) Chief and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Monday here that the Republican Party had given their list of 20 to 21 seats to the BJP state president a week ago and that the party should get a share in power. The RPI is part of the BJP-Sena led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra
Speaking to ANI, Athawale said, "The Republican Party of India had given their list of 20 to 21 seats to the BJP state President Chandrashekhar Bawankule a week ago and we requested them to give us at least 8 to 10 seats. The seats could be a few more or less, but at least in return, RPI should get a fair share in power."
Further, he demanded that out of all the 12 MLCs appointed by the Governor, one MLC should go to RPI and along with that, two to three Maha Mandal Presidents should also be given to RPI.
"Out of all the 12 MLCs that the Governor has appointed, at least one MLC should go to RPI and along with that two to three Maha Mandal President posts should also be given to RPI, this is our demand. If RPI is with Mahayuti, then there will not be much problem in coming to power because the atmosphere of Maharashtra is not like Lok Sabha," he said.
Additionally, Athawale added that Rahul Gandhi's statement in Vidhan Sabha against corruption will benefit them a lot.
"Rahul Gandhi's statement in Vidhan Sabha against corruption will also benefit us a lot. We are hoping we get more than 160 seats in Vidhan Sabha. We had suffered a big loss in the Lok Sabha but we are hoping to cover it up and have a great benefit in Vidhan Sabha," he added.
Maharashtra legislative assembly elections will be held in 288 constituencies. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the dates for the election.
The upcoming polls will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the UBT Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, and the Maha Yuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).