Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) In a big boost to the Congress and the NCP, three Dalit parties Wednesday joined the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.
The Peoples' Republican Party (PRP) led by Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade, a former parliamentarian from Chimur, the Bahujan Republican Ekta Manch (BREM) led by Sulekha Kumbhare, who is also a former minister, and the Republican Party of India-Democratic led by K.T. Kamble joined the alliance.
Kawade, who was also a member of the legislative council, had quit in protest against the September 2006 massacre of four members of a poor Dalit family in Khairlanji in Bhandara district.
The three parties were welcomed into the alliance by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, Industry Minister Narayan Rane and city Congress chief Janardhan Chandurkar.
"We have to join hands and strengthen secular forces in the state and hence the PRP decided to support the alliance," Kawade said.
He, however, wondered why the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh headed by Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of B.R. Ambedkar, did not support the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance.
Kawade also lashed out at Republican Party of India-A chief Ramdas Athawale for joining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in the state.
"It is now important for all secular forces to come together to keep the communal forces at bay," said Chavan, welcoming the three Dalit leaders.
Kumbhare and Kamble appealed to the people to ensure that there was no split among the "secular votes" in the Lok Sabha elections.
The PRP, BREM and RPI-D are expected to be given a few seats in the assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
Supreme Court: The Supreme Court said on Thursday that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will have
There is a flight of dreams and this passion gives purpose to life. If unlimited imagination diss
HC takes Cognizance of Report on 'Most Polluted' Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Taking note of a report that said Delhi was the most polluted city in t
In the 17th match of the ICC World Cup Qualifier, Zimbabwe crushed America by 304 runs. In respon
In the match played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kolkata Knight Riders b
'India-Italy friendship is deep...', what else did Meloni say after meeting PM Modi?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Canada. Yesterday he participated in the G-7 summit
Before Nepal's Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba visits India, China may get a big setback. Let u
Because of the post-counting violence in Meghalaya, the West Jaintia Hills district administratio
Bangladesh's first innings have been reduced to 227 runs in the second Test against India. In res
Celebrating birthdays during World Cup
Kolkata, Feb 13 (IANS) The world’s most recognised song ‘Happy Birthday to You&rsqu
