After warring with ally Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party is now facing the heat from poll partner the Republican Party of India.
For the Brihanmumbai Municipal polls, the BJP has teamed up with RPI in six wards. However, BJP candidates from other wards have been using RPI flags to boost their poll campaign, angering RPI workers.
Recently, Ravi Netawate, an RPI candidate from Ramabainagar (ward number 133), registered a complaint with the State Election Commission (SEC) against a BJP candidate, who was not an official candidate of the alliance. Mr. Netawate accused the candidate of using RPI flags and the photos of its chief Ramdas Athawale in his campaign.
Now, in an attempt to avoid confusion among voters, the RPI candidates are now distributing to voters a letter signed by BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar confirming them as the official candidates of the BJP-RPI alliance.
RPI leader Avinash Mahatekar said, “Yes, there was confusion. We are fighting against each other only in six wards. BJP candidates were given party nomination forms. These wards were given to us as part of the seat-sharing deal.”
In his complaint, Mr. Netawate said that he is the official candidate of the alliance from ward number 133 and no other candidate can use the flag, names and photos of RPI leaders. Any candidate found guilty of doing so should be banned. An officer from the SEC said that the commission would look in to the complaints.
RPI candidate Aksarneesa Sheikh has also approached the SEC and complained against the BJP candidate in her ward for using photos of Mr. Athawale in his campaign.
