RPI(A) eyes Mumbai South Central and Satara LS seats for 2019

NDA constituent RPI (A) Thursday staked claim for two Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing reporters, RPI (A) chief and Union minister Ramdas Athawale said he wanted to contest the Mumbai South Central seat, currently held by the Shiv Sena.

The MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment said he wanted the Mumbai South Central seat from the BJP quota.

"The BJP should leave two Lok Sabha seats--Mumbai South Central and Satara--if they want us to be with them," said Athawale who is currently a Rajya Sabha MP.

Athawale said he had apprised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about his wish to contest.

"I will contest this seat irrespective of the BJP and Shiv Sena coming together to contest the 2019 LS polls. The RPI (A) wants to contest Satara Lok Sabha seat as well," he said.

Satara constituency is represented by NCP MP Udayanraje Bhosale.

Athawale said he would raise his demand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, besides with senior leaders of the BJP in Maharashtra.

He said the RPI (A) is eyeing to contest 13 seats in the 2019 Assembly elections in case the BJP and Shiv Sena forge an alliance, and 25-30 seats in the event of both the parties going solo.

Athawale's demand for Mumbai South Central seat is likely to raise hackles of the Shiv Sena.

The seat is currently represented by Rahul Shewale of the Sena.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party had announced to go solo in the next year's elections.

Athawale, who wields clout in some Dalit pockets of Maharashtra, had last month announced that the RPI (A) would field candidates of other communities in half of the total seats it will contest from in the 2019 general elections.

The RPI(A) has no representation in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The party, however, enjoys a loyal following among the Dalit youths.

Mumbai South Central constituency comprises six Vidhan Sabha segments including Dalit pockets of Dharavi and Chembur. Other segments include Anushakti Nagar, Sion-Koliwada, Wadala and Mahim.

Of the total six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena and the BJP had won three seats each in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Athawale had lost Lok Sabha elections in 2009 from Shirdi constituency in Ahmednagar district against Bhausaheb Wakchaure of the Shiv Sena by a margin of more than one lakh votes.

After the loss, Athawale joined forces with the BJP for the 2014 elections.