In a development that will help the ruling Democratic Front (DF) counter the influence of RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athavale among voters, three senior Dalit leaders on Wednesday announced their support to the Congress-NCP alliance nominees contesting the lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.
Former MP and People’s Republican Party president Jogendra Kawade, former Minister and founder-president of Bahujasn Republican Ekta Manch Sulekatai Kumbare and Republican Party of India (Democratic) president KT Kamble announced their support to the ruling UPA candidates in the lok Sabha polls.
The three Dalit leaders announced their support to the UPA at a news conference jointly addressed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre and his counterpart from Mumbai unit Janardhan Chandurkar.
Former MlA and Sena leader from Thane district Yogesh Patil announced his decision to join the Congress, at the same news conference.
Explaining the rationale behind his announcing support to the UPA, Kawade said: “A conspiracy is being hatched to create anarchy and instability in the country. As part of the conspiracy, efforts are also being made to replace the current Parliament form of democracy with Presidential form of Government. If my party is supporting the UPA, it is because it wants to foil the conspiracy being hatched by the vested interests in the country”.
Sulekatai and Kamble said that they had decided to support the ruling UPA to prevent division to secular votes.
With three Dalit leaders throwing their weight behind the UPA, the ruling Congress and NCP hope to erode the influence of another Dalit leader Ramdas Athavale —whose party is a constituent of the BJP-led "Maha-yuti" (grand alliance) — on the Dalit voters in the lok Sabha elections.