Deshmukh files nomination for Rajya Sabha

MUMBAI: Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athavale, who had accused the Congress-NCP combine of not supporting his candidacy during the Lok Sabha (LS) polls, seems to be in no mood to reconcile. The Dalit leader on Wednesday declined the Congress-NCP's offer of a Rajya Sabha (RS) seat. While the Shiv Sena has nominated advocate Rahul Narvekar to the Rajya Sabha, Union heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh filed his nomination.
Three RS seats have fallen vacant following the election of Sushilkumar Shinde, Prafulla Patel and Supriya Sule to the LS. Elections to fill the vacancies will be held on August 10.
During LS polls, Athavale had accused Congress leader and education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of sabotaging his election. Athavale's refusal has come as a major setback to the alliance that was counting on him to garner Dalit votes during the upcoming assembly elections.
Speaking to the media, Athavale said that he was upset not only because of the sabotage, but also because NCP president Sharad Pawar did not keep his promise of getting him a berth in the Union cabinet during his earlier stint in the LS. "I was kept waiting for five years," Athavale said adding, "I will work to unite RPI factions and put up a fight against both the ruling as well as the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance."
Muslims are also sore that none from their community was given a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Pawar had reportedly promised a seat to advocate Majeed Memon, but at the last moment gave it to Govindrao Adik, a Maratha who had defected to the NCP from the Congress recently. "Maharashtra has not a single Muslim representative in the Parliament. We feel let down by the ruling parties,'' a senior NCP leader noted. The other NCP nominee is Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, son of senior minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil.