RPI-A chief wishes to contest next Lok Sabha poll

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, May 8: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and RPI-A president Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said he was not happy being a member of the Rajya Sabha, hence, he will contest in the next Lok Sabha election. 

Talking to media persons here in evening after distributing gas agency to identified beneficiary of the Scheduled Caste community under the Ujjwala scheme, he said, "I have already discussed with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari about a safe Lok Sabha constituency, including South Mumbai or Ramtek." 
He added that if BJP-Shiv Sena forged alliance in LS poll, then he will ask for the South Mumbai constituency. 
Talking about ongoing differences between BJP and Shiv Sena, the RPI-A chief said, "I have informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard and hopes Uddhav Thackeray and Mr Modi will meet soon and sort out the differences."
He also clarified that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Mr Modi were not against Dalits.
On Mr Gandhi's claim that he would become Prime Minister in 2019 if the party wins the Lok Sabbha election, Mr Athawale in his style replied,"agar das pandraha saal tak rahegi Narendra Modi  ki aandhi to fir kaise Panta pradhan banege Rahul Gandhi (if the Modi wave remains for next 10-15 years, then how will Mr Gandhi become prime minister?)."
Talking about unity amongst the Dalits, he said, "Those who are forming groups daily are talking about Dalit unity. I am ready for the unity if the entire Bahujan Samaj comes together, then there will be real unity." UNI