RPI(Athavale) to adopt BSP's UP formula in Maharashtra

Nagpur, June 25 (UNI) The Athavale faction of the Republican Party of India (RPI-A) has decided to adopt the 'Uttar Pradesh' formula of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Maharashtra in preparation for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections due in 2009.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, RPI-A president Ramdas Athavale said the party would make an effort to take all sections of society together and not restrict itself to a particular group or community.

''We have decided to give 'savarnas' (higher castes) 50 per cent representation, including tickets for elections, in our party, and are willing to go to even 60 per cent if need be,'' he said.

The outcome of the recent elections in UP had demonstrated that the support of all communities was necessary to capture political power, he said.

Mr Athavale, however, expressed reservations about the impact that the BSP would have in the elections in Maharashtra, saying the circumstances in the state are different from that in UP.

The BSP did upset the Congress applecart at several places in Maharashtra in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, but did not make any difference at the assembly elections held later that year, he said.

The RPI-A would mark the golden jubilee of the party's foundation with a public rally here on October 3, Mr Athavale said.

It was on October 3, 1957, that the Republican Party of India was launched at the historic Deekshabhoomi here, he said, adding that efforts would be made on the occasion to bring about unity among various factions of the party.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ramvilas Paswan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will be invited, among others, for the rally, he said.

The rally will be preceded by a meeting of opinion leaders on October 1 and 2 to discuss the important issues before the country, he added.

UNI