RPI(A) to go it alone in UP as no truck with BJP

After being cold shouldered by NDA ally BJP, Republican Party of India (RPI-Athawale) today announced its decision to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh polls by fielding candidates in 58 Assembly seats.

"We do not want to harm BJP... We want them to benefit in the Uttar Pradesh elections... BSP chief Mayawati thinks she has an exclusive right over Dalit votes. We want to assert our right," RPI(A) president Ramdas Athawale said while releasing a list of 58 candidates at a press conference here.

To a question whether he is fielding candidates just to damage BSP's prospects, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said he wants RPI(A) to open its account in Uttar Pradesh and ensure the presence of the party in the state.
 

Athawale had earlier said that he had kept alliance options open.

"If there is a pre-poll alliance with BJP, we can contest around 15 seats. But if that does not happen, then RPI(A) will contest 250 seats," he had said.

"I had talks with BJP chief Amit Shah and he assured me that the matter would be looked into. But we are not concerned. Even if we do not have any alliance, RPI(A) will contest the poll with full vigour to take on BSP," Athawale had said.

Attacking the ruling Samajwadi Party today, he said, "It has been embroiled in an ugly tussle between the father and the son... It did not fulfil promises made in the 2012 elections... Efforts to align with Congress only proves that it has been unsuccessful."

Assuring full security to the people from Uttar Pradesh living in Maharashtra, Athawale said his party, with its headquarters in Mumbai, will not allow any "high handedness" of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray and the rule of law will prevail there.

Athawale has promised to add a tinge of glamour from the tinsel town to the poll campaign by announcing that Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant would give some "glamour ka tadka" to the long-drawn electioneering as the polls would be staggered over seven phases starting on February 11 and ending March 8.

The RPI(A) chief, who has himself acted in a couple of films, has also roped in actor-singer of yesteryears Salma Agha of 'Nikaah' fame for the poll campaign.