New Delhi, Aug 10 (NationPress) Ramdas Athawale, the chief of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) and a Union Minister, has launched a fierce critique of opposition figures, including Sharad Pawar and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with other leaders from the INDIA bloc. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Athawale condemned the opposition for propagating what he termed as 'false narratives' aimed at misleading the populace, while also revealing significant insights from his recent dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In response to Sharad Pawar's controversial remark—where he alleged that two people had approached him during the Maharashtra elections, promising him a victory of 160 seats—Athawale remarked: 'When someone makes such claims, they could be attempting to blackmail. Elections are a democratic affair, and such assertions call into question their integrity.'

Regarding the current discussions surrounding EVMs, Athawale acknowledged the potential for technical glitches in some machines but refuted wider allegations: 'While there may be issues with a few EVMs, it is incorrect to assert that all machines are faulty. When the NDA secured fewer seats than the INDIA bloc, we did not challenge the system. We accepted the outcome.'

Athawale accused Rahul Gandhi of misleading voters during the Lok Sabha elections by falsely asserting that the Constitution would be amended under the BJP regime: 'Rahul Gandhi and his associates propagated the unfounded narrative that Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution would be dismantled. This is simply untrue. The public is now discerning these deceptions.'

Sharing details of his meeting with PM Modi, Athawale mentioned discussions on the success of Operation Sindoor, a recent counter-terror initiative. 'Our armed forces effectively neutralized terrorist hideouts without any civilian casualties, which is commendable.'

He also expressed concerns regarding seat-sharing in Maharashtra, alleging that the BJP's state faction is not adequately accommodating RPI within the Mahayuti (grand alliance). 'I informed the Prime Minister that RPI is being overlooked in seat distribution. We’re being denied seats in Zilla Parishads, local body elections, and even one ministerial and one MLC post that we are requesting. PM Modi discussed our party's performance with me, and I trust that Devendra Fadnavis will address our concerns fairly.'

Taking another jab at Rahul Gandhi, Athawale stated: 'Rahul Gandhi avoids engaging with the Election Commission and prefers to mislead the public through statements. The Commission has made it clear that if there are any errors, they are open to rectification. If Rahul possesses evidence of fraudulent voting, he should present it rather than creating a spectacle.'

Reflecting on the BJP-led NDA's performance, Athawale acknowledged losses in the Lok Sabha elections but underscored their recovery in subsequent elections: 'Indeed, we faced setbacks in the general elections, but the BJP and NDA have made a strong comeback in states like Haryana, Delhi, and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra alone, we secured 237 seats. The public continues to place their trust in us.'