Mumbai: Unlike the previous Lok Sabha elections, this time, CM Devendra Fadnavis has asked all allies to contest on the BJP’s symbol, the Lotus. Fadnavis has claimed on Tuesday, this time it is a bigger wave of PM Narendra Modi than 2014 and for BJP to accommodate them, they have to merge their identity.
However, BJP allies are rather miffed with this proposal. Mahadev Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) has rejected this idea and said he and his other party candidates will contest only on their own party symbol.
Fadnavis inaugurated the media room at the state party office in Nariman Point. Fadnavis clarified, Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India (RPI-A) and other allies are with the BJP and there is no dispute between the BJP-Shiv Sena-led Maha Agahdi (Mega Alliance).
All leaders of the mega-alliance will be seen on the stage in the first rally scheduled to be held in Kolhapur, on March 24,” said Fadnavis. He added, the BJP has given an assurance to Athawale to share more seats in the assembly polls. He expressed, all allies should contest the polls on the BJP symbol. Jankar, while clarifying his party’s stand said, the BJP has not yet confirmed the specific number of seats it will share with them.
However, he has made it clear, he would not contest the LS polls from Baramati on the lotus symbol. Jankar, who had offered stiff competition to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule in 2014, from this seat is disgruntled with the BJP for being side lined.
However, Jankar, the leader from the Dhangar community said, he has not given up his chances of contesting the Lok Sabha polls. “We have informed our stand to the BJP and are awaiting their response. But there has not been any headway so far,” said Jankar.
