PUNE: “The Congress is playing the role of Vanchit Aghadi in UP and will divide the votes of Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party,” said Republican Party of India (RPI) President and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale in Pune on Wednesday. 

He compared the Congress with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi formed by Bharatiya Republican Party President Prakash Ambedkar. 

Athawale was in the city to take part in BJP candidate Girish Bapat’s rally. “The Congress will divide the votes in UP and it will help BJP,” Athawale said at a press conference. 

“The BJP will get maximum seats in UP. In Maharashtra, BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI coalition have a favourable situation. Last time, we won 42 seats and now we will win around 40 seats,” he added, admitting a dip in numbers.

Athawale admitted that Aghadi’s rallies are getting a huge response. He said, “It will not convert into votes and victory. The BJP will get the benefit of Aghadi whereas the Congress will face a huge setback. There was an effort to form a third front in Maharashtra. I had done an experiment to unite all Republican party groups. But it will not succeed. People will give vote but it will not help the candidate win.”