J-K Assembly polls: Ramdas Athawale's RPI(A) likely to contest 16-17 seats, support BJP in remaining

Mumbai (Maharashtra), Sep 03: Union Minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawale said on Tuesday that his party will contest 16-17 seats in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

In the run-up to the assembly elections, Athawale extended support to the Bharatiya Janata Party in J-K on the remaining seats.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. It will be the first assembly poll since the abrogation of Article 370.

"In Jammu and Kashmir, we will contest 16-17 seats and will support BJP on the remaining seats. In Haryana, we will contest 10-12 seats and will support BJP on the remaining seats. NDA government will be formed in both places," Athwale said while speaking to ANI on Tuesday.

RPI (A)'s Haryana unit President Ravi Sonu Kundli earlier indicated the possibility of an alliance with BJP in Haryana. "If we form an alliance with the BJP at the state level, then we are demanding 2 seats in it. If no agreement is reached with the BJP, then we will field candidates on 8 to 10 seats and will support BJP candidates on the remaining 80 seats," Kundli said.

Party leader Manju Chibbar said that the two seats that they are demanding from the BJP are reserved seats, including Mullana in Ambala and Nilokheri in Karnal.

"If BJP gives us to two seats in the alliance then on the rest 8 seats we will support the BJP. The Two seats that we are demanding include Mullana in Ambala and Nilokheri in Karnal. Republic Party request the BJP for these two seats. We've been with the BJP and will always be. But if it doesn't suit the BJP to give us the seat then we will have to contest independently in Haryana to keep the morale of the party," she said.

Voting will be held on October 5 in Haryana and the last date for filing nominations is September 12. The counting of votes in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be held on October 8. (ANI)