Ramdas Athawale puts forth his demands to Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale has reminded Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the promises that the latter made to the RPI(A) before the State Assembly elections.

Athawale said, “Not enough seats were allotted to the RPI (A), which was a part of the Maha Yuti, in the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. Still RPI(A) office-bearers and workers worked loyally for the alliance. Devendra Fadnavis promised to offer a ministerial berth to the RPI(A) before the State polls. Now, he should fulfil the promise.”

Athawale addressed a press conference in the city. He said, “The three main alliance partners, the BJP, the Shiv Sena (BT) and the NCP (AP) promised to share power with the RPI(A). We demand one ministerial berth in the State Cabinet. I will soon meet CM Fadnavis in this connection. The RPI(A) strongly supported the Maha Yuti in the past five years. In the past 2.5 years of the Maha Yuti rule, the RPI(A) was not even given a post in any of the corporations. The party should get a berth in the State Cabinet now.

“The RPI(A) will be a part of the Maha Yuti in the local self-government and civic elections. We hope that more seats will be allotted to us in these polls. The RPI(A) was given the Deputy Mayor’s post in the PMC. This time, we should get the Mayor’s post. Earlier, the party was allotted 12 seats but it should get 20 seats this time. I will put forth these demands before CM Fadnavis and the two DyCMs.

“We demanded some seats in the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly polls. But the Maha Yuti leaders ignored our demand. It was announced that two seats would be given to us in the State elections. But the candidates had to contest on the lotus and the bow and arrow symbols. They were not our candidates. The Maha Yuti has got a big mandate in the State. The RPI(A) played a major role in it. Taking note of this, the party should get a berth in the State Cabinet.”