Mumbai: Cracks have developed in the
newly-formed Republican Democratic Left Front (RDLF) with a
faction of Republican Party of India deciding to contest 15
seats on its own in the October 13 assembly polls in
Maharashtra.
Confirming the differences of opinion among the RDLF,
Rajendra Gawai said, "my party (RPI-Gawai) would be
contesting 15 seats in Vidarbha region."
The party would, however, support RLDF from outside on
other seats. The list of candidates and seats would be
declared soon, he said
The Front, a coalition of 18 parties including the Left,
had said it would take on both the ruling Congress-NCP
alliance and opposition Shiv Sena-BJP combine and contest all
288 seats.
Rajendra, son of RPI (Gawai) founder and Kerala Governor
R S Gawai, criticised the "autocratic" style of RPI (Athawale)
leader Ramdas Athawale, alleging that the latter did not
consult other Republican leaders before making important
poll-related announcements.
Rajendra also expressed displeasure over distributing
tickets to former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok
Janshakti Party, as the party never offered a ticket to RPI in
Bihar.
The Front includes five warring factions of RPI, the
CPI-M, CPI, Samajwadi Party, Lok Janshakti Party and Janata
Dal (Secular) among others.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 19:07