While addressing an event in Nagpur on Sunday, Gadkari said that while there is no guarantee of NDA government’s fourth term, Athawale will, however, become a minister anyway.
“We are not guaranteed to form the government for the fourth time. But Ramdas Athawale is guaranteed to become a minister again if any government comes,” Gadkari said.
“Ramdas Athawale’s ministerial position is sure no matter who is in the government,” he added.
Ramdas Athawale, the leader of the Republican Party of India (RPI-A), has served as a minister three times and expressed confidence in maintaining this streak if the BJP-led alliance returns to power.
During a press conference in Nagpur, Athawale discussed his party’s plans for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, stating that the RPI-A, a partner in the ruling Mahayuti coalition, should be allotted 10 to 12 seats. He specified that his party would contest on its own symbol and is seeking three to four seats in Vidarbha, including North Nagpur, Umred, Umarkhed in Yavatmal, and Washim.
Despite not contesting a single seat in the recent Lok Sabha election and having no directly-elected public representative, the Republican Party of India (RPI) still enjoys a certain influence within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Athawale’s political journey has been marked by alliances with various parties. In 1990, he joined the Sharad Pawar-led state government in alliance with Congress, leading the social welfare department. However, in 2011, he parted ways with the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance and joined the NDA fold. Although his party has not seen significant growth over the past 13 years within the NDA, the alliance has helped Athawale raise his profile as a Union minister of state.