Smarting under the onslaught of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), the Congress-NCP may have some respite during the forthcoming state assembly elections, with leaders of the Republican Party of India (RPI) forging a front to ally with them.
However, leaders of this 'Republican Janshakti Aghadi' have sought a share of seats from the opposition alliance, failing which they have threatened to contest on their own. "This is a front of RPI factions," said MLC Jogendra Kawade, who heads his Peoples Republican Party (PRP). He added this front would include Nanasaheb Indise of the RPI-Ektawadi, who has a base in Thane, former minister Gangadhar Gade of Republican Panthers, Dr Rajendra Gavai (RPI- Gavai), and other RPI factions. "The RPI is the political ideology of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. However, some parties are trying to finish it off. We are willing to ally with the Congress and NCP," said Kawade, a MLC from the Congress quota.