'Betrayal of trust': Ramdas Athawale on RPI(A)’s exclusion from Mahayuti seat-sharing for BMC polls; to contest on 38 seats

NEW DELHI: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday termed his party RPI(A)’s exclusion from Mahayuti seat-sharing seat-sharing for BMC polls as "betrayal of trust". He said that his party would contest on 38 seats, however, adding that he would "support the BJP and Shiv Sena on other seats.""Since the formation of the Mahayuti, we have stood by the alliance with complete sincerity and firmness. However, what has happened today regarding seat-sharing is nothing but a betrayal of trust," he said in a post on X.Taking a stand for the "dignity" of party workers, Athawale released the candidate list and said that it is "absolutely essential for the Ambedkarite community's power to participate in governance." "The BJP offered a proposal for just 7 seats late at night, but putting up candidates in new locations at the eleventh hour is now impossible. Even though our strength in Mumbai is greater than that of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), we were sidelined in the seat allocation, which has caused intense resentment among RPI workers across Maharashtra. We are not like other leaders who repeatedly twist words or change their stance as it suits them. Fundamentally, we cannot accept any compromise that forgets the party, the workers, and their self-respect, because the workers' strength is the party's true strength," he said."Therefore, we will not take any stance that puts the workers' dignity and the party's existence at stake. Our word and our loyalty are rock-solid. From a broader perspective, it is absolutely essential for the Ambedkarite community's power to participate in governance and, through that, to keep the work for the common people going unceasingly. It is with this seriousness in mind that we have decided to stay with the MahaYuti. Many more decisions can be taken after the election results, but it is now clear that we will contest 'friendly fights' on 38 to 39 seats. Even though our support for the MahaYuti remains firm, on these seats the RPI will demonstrate its strength," he added.BJP MLC Pravin Darekar met Athawale and later, speaking to the reporters, he said that "his participation in the government and his respect will be ensured in a dignified manner." "Ramdas Athawale is not upset; he is with the Mahayuti alliance. But he has his own party, so there is pressure from his party workers. Every party's workers feel they should contest the elections... There are 227 seats and thousands of workers who are interested in contesting elections... I believe that after discussing this with the chief minister, his participation in the government and his respect will be ensured in a dignified manner," he said.Even as the BJP and Shiv Sena have declared a seat-sharing arrangement, another Mahayuti ally—the NCP led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar—is fighting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections on its own.Meanwhile, the last date for filing nomination papers for the January 15 elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra ends on Tuesday.