RPI's place in Mahayuti unclear, party workers sidelined: Ramdas Athawale
Synopsis
A sitting Union Minister is publicly questioning whether his own party belongs to Maharashtra's ruling alliance. Ramdas Athawale's open grievance — no MLC seat, no Assembly seat, no BMC berth — exposes the fault lines inside Mahayuti that the BJP-led coalition has so far managed to keep out of the headlines.
Key Takeaways
Ramdas Athawale on 5 June said it is 'not clear' whether the Republican Party of India (RPI) is still part of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.
Athawale holds a Union Cabinet portfolio and a Rajya Sabha seat for the third time, but says state-level party workers have received nothing.
He demanded one MLC seat , two Mahamandal Chairperson positions, and representation in DPDC , Zilla, Taluka, and BMC committees.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had reportedly promised an MLC seat; Athawale said RPI has sought a meeting to press the demand.
RPI was not allocated seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections , the Lok Sabha polls (Shirdi), or BMC elections .
Union Minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale on 5 June publicly questioned whether his party remains a functioning member of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, saying RPI workers are being denied the political representation they deserve at the state level. The remarks signal growing friction within the ruling coalition ahead of key local body elections.
Athawale's Core Grievance
Athawale acknowledged that he holds a Union Cabinet portfolio and has secured a Rajya Sabha seat for the third consecutive time. However, he argued that the party workers responsible for those achievements have received nothing in return at the Maharashtra level.
'I have a feeling that the party workers, because of whom I could get this Ministry portfolio and Rajya Sabha seat, are not getting anything in Maharashtra,' he said.
He drew a pointed comparison with other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam, where coalition allies are reportedly allocated both legislative seats and Cabinet berths at the state level.
What RPI Is Demanding
Athawale outlined a specific set of demands for his party's representation in Maharashtra. He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had already promised one seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) and called on the CM to honour that commitment.
Beyond the MLC seat, Athawale demanded two Mahamandal Chairperson positions with 40 to 50 members across districts, along with representation in District Planning and Development Councils (DPDC), Zilla Committees, Taluka Committees, and civic bodies including those under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). 'It is our demand that at least one member of RPI should be given an opportunity in all these,' he said.
The Alliance Ambiguity
Athawale was unambiguous about the identity crisis his party faces within the Mahayuti framework. 'My Union Ministry portfolio reflects that my party is a part of the NDA, but whether it is also a part of the Mahayuti or not is not clear. RPI's name is not mentioned anywhere,' he said.
He noted that RPI was not allocated any seat during the Maharashtra Assembly elections and was similarly shut out of BMC polls. He had also sought a Lok Sabha ticket from Shirdi — a constituency where he had previously contested while in alliance with the Indian National Congress — but that request was not granted either.
Tone Toward Fadnavis
Despite his frustration, Athawale maintained that his personal relationship with Devendra Fadnavis remains cordial. He expressed confidence that Fadnavis will fulfil the MLC seat promise and confirmed that RPI has sought an appointment with the Chief Minister to formalise the demands. 'But what the RPI deserves, it is not getting it,' he underlined.
With local body elections on the horizon and the BMC yet to go to polls, the pressure on Mahayuti's smaller partners to secure visible political returns is only set to intensify.
Point of View
The RPI's discontent could become a liability in the very constituencies — urban Dalit pockets in Mumbai and Nashik — that Mahayuti cannot afford to lose.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ramdas Athawale questioning RPI's membership in the Mahayuti alliance?
Athawale says RPI has not been allocated any legislative or civic representation in Maharashtra — no MLC seat, no Assembly seat, and no BMC berth — despite being part of the BJP-led coalition. He argues this makes his party's status in the Mahayuti effectively unclear.
What specific demands has Athawale made to the Maharashtra government?
He has demanded one Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) seat, two Mahamandal Chairperson positions with 40 to 50 members across districts, and at least one RPI member each in DPDC, Zilla, Taluka, and BMC-linked committees.
Has Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to Athawale's demands?
Fadnavis had earlier reportedly promised RPI one MLC seat, according to Athawale. RPI has now sought a formal meeting with the Chief Minister to follow up on that commitment. No public response from Fadnavis had been issued at the time of reporting.
How does RPI's situation in Maharashtra compare to other NDA allies in other states?
Athawale pointed out that NDA partners in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam receive both legislative seat allocations and state Cabinet berths. He contrasted that with RPI's situation in Maharashtra, where the party has been shut out of all three electoral cycles — Assembly, Lok Sabha, and local body polls.
What is the significance of Athawale raising this issue now?
The BMC elections in Mumbai are yet to be held, making this a critical period for smaller parties to secure commitments from their larger allies. Athawale's public pressure is widely seen as an attempt to extract concrete assurances before the electoral calendar closes further.
