Athawale demands berth in Maharashta cabinet

Mumbai: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale today called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to give berths to his party members in the state cabinet.
Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader from the state, took oath as Union Minister of State for Social Justice two days ago.

On his first visit here after the swearing-in, he paid a visit to Chaityabhoomi, the memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Afterwards he called on Fadnavis and thanked him for recommending his name for inclusion in the union cabinet and thereby fulfilling BJP's pre-election promise, said an aide of Athawale's.

"He (Athawale) also requested the Chief Minister to ensure that RPI (A) leaders get berths in his ministry as per the formula agreed upon prior to the 2014 Assembly elections," he added.

Athawale is a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra.