Nagpur, Mar 21 (PTI) Union minister and RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said his party was considering not fielding candidates in the upcoming West Bengal elections and instead supporting the BJP across all seats to avoid a split in votes.
The Republican Party of India (Athawale) will, however, contest in polls in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said in a press conference in Nagpur.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases – on April 23 and 29. While Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will vote on April 9, Tamil Nadu elections will be held on April 23. Votes will be counted on May 4.
Athawale said RPI (A) has a presence in Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry.
He said the party would contest at least 25 to 30 seats in Tamil Nadu, 15 to 20 in Assam, and 8 to 10 in Kerala.
“While RPI (A) will contest in Puducherry as well, we want the BJP to come to power in West Bengal and ensure that votes are not split. RPI (A) is considering not fielding any candidate in Bengal and instead supporting the BJP in all seats,” he said.
To a question about the rape-accused ‘godman’ Ashok Kharat, who was arrested on Wednesday in Nashik, Athawale said it was a “very serious” matter and called for strict action. Kharat, who claims to be a retired Merchant Navy officer and is known as “captain”, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman for three years.
Athawale also said that since NCP leader Rupali Chakankar stepped down as the head of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women against the backdrop of a controversy following Kharat’s arrest, a new chairperson of the panel should be appointed as soon as possible.
Facing flak from opposition parties over her association with Kharat, Chakankar on Friday tendered her resignation. PTI CLS NR
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