RPI-BJP alliance can easily defeat SP-BSP says Athawale

Lucknow: Eying a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale claimed that if BJP agrees to tie up with his Republican Party of India (RPI) then both parties can rout SP and BSP from the state.

Talking exclusively to ETV Bharat about his party's upcoming rally on February 27th Lucknow, the Union Minister stressed that his party has been getting good response and he was hoping to do well.

He further claimed that this was his bid to retain RPI's traditional Dalit votes, which has now gone to the BSP.

"People do not know that the entire BSP votebank once belonged to the Republican Party of India. I am trying to retain it," he added.

Not only this, the RPI chief also claimed that several SP and BSP workers were now joining his party

On SP and BSP alliance he said, "They have joined hands just to defeat the BJP. But I think it is impossible to beat BJP right now. Bigwigs like Shivpal and many others are going to contest separately which will certainly benefit the BJP."