Athawale Says Promised 12 BMC Seats By Fadnavis
The seats would be carved out from the quotas of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena: Union minister Ramdas Athawale
MUMBAI: A day after warning that his party could go it alone in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to placate the Republican Party of India (Athawale), assuring it of at least 12 seats in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
Speaking after a meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr. Athawale said the seats would be carved out from the quotas of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Under the existing Mahayuti arrangement, the BJP has been allotted 137 seats and has already announced candidates for all of them, while Shiv Sena will contest remaining 90 seats.
The RPI(A) leader had earlier expressed displeasure after his party was left out of the Mahayuti seat-sharing talks for the BMC polls, announcing that it would contest 30 seats independently while supporting the alliance elsewhere. A day after voicing his resentment publicly, Mr. Athawale met Mr. Fadnavis at his official residence, ‘Varsha’, to press the party’s demands.
The RPI(A) delegation included senior leaders Avinash Mahatekar, Kakasaheb Khambalkar, Gautam Sonawane and Siddharth Kasare.
“We have submitted a list of 17 priority seats. Out of these, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will each vacate around six seats from their respective quotas. Candidates who have already filed nominations in these constituencies will withdraw in favour of RPI(A) candidates, who will be the official Mahayuti nominees,” Mr. Athawale said.
Although the BJP has declared its candidates, Mr. Athawale said the chief minister has instructed Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam and senior leader Pravin Darekar to begin the process of vacating the agreed seats. Similar discussions will be held with deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, he added.
The RPI(A), which had filed nominations in 30 wards due to the initial standoff, will now contest 12 seats with full alliance backing. In the remaining 18 wards, “friendly contests” are expected. Mr. Athawale said his party would extend unconditional support to Mahayuti candidates in the remaining 197 seats.
“The RPI(A) is now satisfied with the discussions held with Mr. Fadnavis. The earlier resentment has been resolved, and our cadre will work wholeheartedly to ensure a Mahayuti victory in Mumbai,” Mr. Athawale said.