Athawale says RPI, with NDA allies for 14 years, still gets no share of power in Maharashtra

Union Minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawale has taken a tough stand over his party being ignored in Maharashtra's Mahayuti government. He openly expressed his displeasure in Ahilyanagar. Athawale said the RPI has been with the BJP and Shiv Sena for the past 14 years, yet it is not getting the share of power in Maharashtra that it deserves.

Speaking to reporters, Athawale said, "It is a different matter that I got a ministerial post at the Centre. But the Republican workers who made me a minister should also get a share of power in Maharashtra." According to him, the RPI did get support during the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party years, but is now being taken for granted as an ally. He said that despite being with the BJP and Shiv Sena, the party has not got a single ministerial post in Maharashtra.

Athawale has placed some demands before the Chief Minister. The first is that one of the 5 vacant Legislative Council seats to be filled by the Governor's nomination be given to the RPI. Under the second, the RPI wants the chairmanship of at least two state-level corporations and 40 to 50 member posts for workers. The third concerns local committees. He said workers should get a chance on the District Planning and Development Committees (DPDC) of every district, taluka committees and 'SO', and that guardian ministers should be given clear orders to this effect.

Speaking on the stand of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, Athawale said it is wrong to assume that the RPI is only in the BJP's quota. In his words, the Republican Party is an independent and important constituent of the Mahayuti. He also recalled what Balasaheb Thackeray said in 2012. According to Athawale, Balasaheb had expressed confidence that if Shivshakti and Bhimshakti came together, there would be a major social change in Maharashtra. Therefore, Athawale said, the party must be given due respect.

On the local self-government elections, Athawale said the prabhag system of four wards each is causing big losses to smaller parties and has made it hard for workers to win on their own. He said, "This system may suit the big parties, but keeping smaller parties in mind, the earlier 'single-ward system' should be brought back." He has placed this demand before the Chief Minister and BJP leader Ravindra Chavan.

On national party status, Athawale said the party has branches across 28 states and 8 Union Territories, and that the RPI is a recognised party in Nagaland and Manipur. He is confident that if it gets recognition in two more states, the Election Commission will grant the RPI national party status. Talks on the sharing of seats and power in the Mahayuti are currently under way, and Athawale's stand has created political pressure on the major parties to give the RPI a share of power.