Sangli, Maharashtra, Mar 27 (FN Agency) Union minister of state for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale openly appealed Nationalist Congress party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to join Bhartiya Janta Party National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Bharatiya Janata Party. At a press conference Sunday evening Mr Athawale said that following good relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had praised Mr Pawar many times, Mr Pawar should join NDA for the development of the nation. He said, even now NCP chief is engaged in organising meetings of different opposition leaders for unity of opposition. NDA would repeat its performance in coming Loksabha elections due next year, he said.
On disqualification of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from membership of Loksabha, Mr Athawale justified the decision saying, the action of disqualification was right and it had nothing to do with BJP. Mr Gandhi made such statements many times. By criticising Mr Modi, Congress party would get no benefit. Mr Gandhi is not bigger than law. He also Criticised Mr Raj Thackeray, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Mr Athawale said that his party Republican party of India (Athawale) would demand two seats in the Loksabha election next year. He wanted to contest from Shirdi Loksabha constituency. He has already met Mr Shinde, Mr Phadnavis along with BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah, and discussed on this issue. He hoped that Supreme court’s decision on real Shiv Sena issue would be in favour of Mr Shinde’s group. Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were responsible for present situation in Shiv Sena, he alleged.