Last Update: January 04, 2023, 22:14 IST
The alliance could bring Dalit votes to the party led by Chief Minister Shinde, which is trying to consolidate its base after splitting the Shiv Sena and toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government last year. (Image: PTI/File)
The alliance could bring Dalit votes to the party led by Chief Minister Shinde, which is trying to consolidate its base after splitting the Shiv Sena and toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government last year.
Shiv Sena’s ruling Eknath Shinde faction and Jogendra Kawade-led People’s Republican Party of India The alliance was announced on Wednesday ahead of civic and local body elections in Maharashtra.
The alliance could bring Dalit votes to the party led by Chief Minister Shinde, which is trying to consolidate its base after splitting the Shiv Sena and toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government last year.
Speaking at a press conference with Shinde, Kawade said that he was forging an alliance only with the ‘Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’ (the official name of the Shinde group), “Maharashtra has got a very courageous Chief Minister. It looks like This is everyone’s government. We are very impressed with them,” said Kavde, a veteran Dalit leader.
Kavade said the main ideological thrust of the alliance would be the reformist ideals of Jyotiba Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Dr BR Ambedkar and ‘Prabodhankar’ Thackeray (father of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray who was a noted reformer).
Notably, the tie-up was announced when talks were on between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi of Prakash Ambedkar, an influential Dalit leader.
CC Kawade, a prominent member of the Ambedkarite movement in Maharashtra, is also the founder of the People’s Republican Party of India and a former Lok Sabha MP.
The RPI, which has its roots in Dr BR Ambedkar’s Scheduled Castes Federation, later split into several factions.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)