Ramdas Athawale ready for VBA merger under Ambedkar kin's leadership

NASHIK: Union minister and Republican Party of India (A) president Ramdas Athawale expressed Saturday his willingness to merge his party with Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), offering to work under the leadership of Prakash Ambedkar.

"VBA is gaining in strength but has a long way to go. We are all one, and therefore, I appeal to Prakash Ambedkar to merge his VBA into RPI, which was started by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar himself. Prakash Ambedkar can lead the party, and I will take orders from him," Athawale said in Nashik.

Athawale said RPI (A) has made its mark not only in Maharashtra but also in northeastern states.

He also revealed his party's seat-sharing demands from Mahayuti alliance for the upcoming assembly polls . "We have sought nine seats across Maharashtra. We want three seats from Nashik division. Deolali (Nashik), Bhusawal (Jalgaon), and Srirampur (Ahilyanagar). Talks are on," he said. Athawale expressed confidence in the alliance's prospects. "The exit polls in Haryana favoured Congress, but people voted for BJP. A similar situation is brewing in Maharashtra," he said.