BJP: 10% quota to dalit allies in government

NAGPUR: BJP has promised to give 10% share in power to dalit parties that have allied with BJP. State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis told the media that Ramdas Athawale would also be given a share of power wherever possible.

Sulekha Kumbhare, president of Bahujan Republican Ekta Manch (BREM) and Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), a tribal party, have extended support to BJP candidates.

Union transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, brought Kumbhare to BJP camp after she was ditched by Congress. BJP is supporting GGP candidate from Ramtek DM Reddy. Reddy is contesting on the lotus symbol.

The two leaders claimed that if any person inducted into the party was found guilty then he or she would have to face the law. “The party won’t come to their defence,” Fadnavis said.

Maintaining BJP’s policy of not criticizing its former ally Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said that BJP’s enemies were only Congress and NCP and Sena was not its target. “We don’t have time to reply to Sena’s criticism. People will decide who was at fault,” he said.

Earlier, Sulekha Kumbhare slammed Congress for backstabbing her. “We supported the party in Lok Sabha and their leaders promised to support us in Vidhan Sabha. I had demanded five seats but agreed for two. Even as I was given Kamptee and Umred seats, Congress had already decided its candidates from the two seats.

“I came to know on Friday that Kamptee seat had been given to Rajendra Mulak, who could not be accommodated in Nagpur West. Congress conveyed to me through media that I should contest from Umred. However, I learnt on Saturday that it had decided to field Sanjay Meshram from there,” an angry Kumbhare said.

Kumbhare claimed she decided to join hands with BJP as it was pro-Vidarbha and pro-development.

Source: The Times of India