Ramdas Athawale: 'Aaditya as CM only possible with BJP-RPI support'

Republican Party of India Chief and Union Minister Ramdas Bandu Athawale on Wednesday, October 9, spoke about Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray contesting in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. Athawale-led RPI (A) is the among the NDA's allies. Talking to the media, Athawale said, Shiv Sena fielding Aaditya Thackeray is a good move. However, Athawale also stressed that Aaditya Thackeray as a Chief Minister of Maharashtra will only be possible with the support of BJP and RPI.

READ: Fadnavis Endorses Aaditya Thackeray, Says He Will Win 'maximum Votes'

Ramdas Athawale on Aaditya Thackeray's candidature

Ramdas opined Aaditya Thackeray will win with a huge margin of votes in Maharashtra Assembly elections. Thackeray filed his nomination from Mumbai's Worli constituency. Meanwhile, Athawale has assured his support to Aaditya Thackeray and added, the Dalits in the Worli constituency will vote for Aaditya Thackeray.

"No one from Balasaheb Thackeray's family contested the elections before, however, Aaditya Thackeray will contest and win with a majority. In Worli, there are many people from our Dalit community who will vote for Aaditya Thackeray. He will win with a big margin," said Athawale.

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However, Ramdas Athawale also said that Aaditya Thackeray for Maharashtra's Chief Minister is possible only with support from BJP and allies. He referred to Sena leader Sanjay Raut's statement where he said that "Chandrayaan launched but did not land on the moon, but Sena will ensure that their candidate will reach the sixth floor of Mantralaya (Chief Minister's office)." 

"When the time comes and its decided that the Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena, then its possible with support from BJP-RPI. But without support it's not possible in this election." added Athawale. 

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The Union Minister said it is not possible in these elections since BJP has a majority across the state and India. He also stated that with Sena's support, the Chief Minister will be from BJP. Even so, Athawale asserted that Shiv Sena will have their candidate as the Maharashtra CM in the long run. 

BJP-Sena seat-sharing formula

Talking about the saffron allies' seat-sharing formula, Fadnavis has declared that Shiv Sena will contest the polls from 124 constituencies while the BJP will contest from 150 constituencies. In addition, the allies will contest from 14 constituencies. The CM also said all allies of the BJP will contest under the BJP symbol. However, Fadnavis has refuted claims of Aaditya Thackeray being considered for the Chief Ministerial candidate. 

READ | Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis Announces 'MahaYuti' With Shiv Sena

Maharashtra Assembly polls

Maharashtra which has 288 Assembly seats will go to polls on October 21, 2019. Maharashtra assembly elections will be held in a single-phase and the counting procedure would be conducted on October 24. The last date of nomination is on Friday. EC informed that the parties in Maharashtra had wanted the polls to be concluded by Dhanteras.