- By Raju Kumar
- Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
UP Assembly Elections 2027: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s ally, the Republican Party of India (Athawale), is planning to establish its political presence in Uttar Pradesh by fielding candidates in 25 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections next year. RPI president and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, said he would meet UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this evening to stake his claim for the 25 seats.
The RPI is set to contest the upcoming elections in alliance with the BJP, but if the saffron party does not consider 25 seats demand, the party may go alone.
RPI Eyes Dalit Vote Bank
He told reporters at the VVIP Guest House that the bumper voter turnout in the West Bengal Assembly elections has proven that the NDA is certain to form a government this time. He added that the Bahujan Samaj Party no longer has a strong support base in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, the party has a strong claim in seats with a Dalit-majority electorate.
He said that his party will organise a huge rally at the Defence Expo Ground in Lucknow on Constitution Day, 26 November. The party has set a target of gathering a crowd of one lakh workers for this rally. RPI has established its organisation in 64 districts. The party's state president, Pawan Gupta, was also present with him. Athawale demanded that community halls be constructed in Dalit-dominated villages and that locals be given the responsibility of managing them.
The RPI leader targeted the Congress on women's reservation, saying the party has never been serious about providing a quota to women. He also attacked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying opposing women is not the job of socialists.
(With Jagran Inputs)