Maharashtra Assembly polls: After Shiv Sena and RPI, BJP ally RSP expresses discontent over seat-sharing

Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) has fired salvo against BJP saying that the saffron party has done injustice to it by not meeting its demand for leaving three assembly seats.

BJP has left Daund in Pune district and Jintur in Parbhani district, but has denied Gandakhed seat. BJP has left Gangakhed seat to Shiv Sena. RSP nominees from Daund and Jintur were at the last minute made to file their nominations on BJP's B form as its candidate fighting on Lotus symbol.

Form A and Form B denote that a certain candidate has been approved by a political party and should be allotted the election symbol of that party.

RSP's outburst comes after Shiv Sena has expressed displeasure over seat sharing arrangement with BJP. Besides, JJP ally Republican Party of India (Athavale) has said it was not happy with the distribution of seats.

RSP founder and the minister of dairy development Mahadev Jankar was furious as the BJP has not given B form to its candidate Rahul Kul in Daund and Meghana Bordikar in Jintur but made them to file on BJP symbol. Jankar was ingorant about it as he was accompanying BJP minister Pankaja Munde for filing her nomination papers from Parali constituency in Beed district.

After the filing of nomination came to end at 3 pm on October 4, Jankar came to know from his candidates that they have been denied B form and therefore had to file their nomination papers as BJP nominees fighting on saffron party's Lotus symbol in Daund and Jintur constituencies.

''BJP had agreed to give three seats instead left only two seats. Further, BJP did not give B form but asked party nominees to file on BJP's B form. BJP has clearly cheated us,'' Jankar said after he held his party executive meeting on Monday to take stock of the situation. However, Jankar made it clear that the party has fielded Ratnakar Gutte in Gangakhed constituency in Parbhani district and he will not back out. He will contest on RSP symbol and not on BJP symbol. Incidentally, BJP has left Gangakhed seat to Shiv Sena.

Further, Jankar is reportedly unhappy over BJP's decision to nominate Gopichand Padalkar from Baramati against NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Both Jankar and Padalkar come from the politically influential Dhangar community which has angry over BJP government for not meeting its promise to provide reservation under scheduled tribe quota. Jankar has questioned the BJP's move to induct into the party and elevate him by offering nomination. Jankar also clarified that it will be too wrong to compare him with Padalkar.