Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of a "betrayal of trust" for excluding his Republican Party of India (Athawale) from the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. In a firm response, he announced that the RPI(A) will contest approximately 38 seats independently, while still extending support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on other constituencies.
A Late-Night Offer and a Decision to Fight
Athawale revealed that the BJP presented a last-minute proposal for only seven seats late on Monday night. He stated that it was impossible for his party to field candidates in new locations at such a short notice. The minister emphasized that his party's strength in Mumbai is greater than that of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), yet they were sidelined during the allocation process. This move, he claimed, has sparked intense resentment among RPI workers across Maharashtra.
Standing for Dignity and Community Representation
Asserting the need to protect the dignity of his party workers, Athawale released his candidate list. He framed the decision as crucial for the political empowerment of the Ambedkarite community. "We are not like other leaders who repeatedly twist words or change their stance as it suits them," he declared in a post on social media platform X. He argued that compromising the party's self-respect and the workers' morale was fundamentally unacceptable.
Despite the rupture in seat-sharing, Athawale clarified that the RPI(A) will remain with the Mahayuti alliance from a broader perspective. He described the decision to contest select seats as "friendly fights" intended to demonstrate the party's strength. "Many more decisions can be taken after the election results," he added, leaving room for future negotiations post-polls.
Broader Alliance Dynamics and Election Timeline
The development highlights cracks within the Mahayuti coalition ahead of the crucial civic polls. Another key ally, the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is also contesting the BMC elections independently. This means three major partners of the state-level ruling alliance are entering the fray separately in India's financial capital.
The political maneuvering unfolds as the deadline for filing nomination papers for elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra closed on Tuesday. The polls are scheduled for January 15, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest that will test the cohesion of the ruling alliance.
