Republican Party of India (Athawale)
The Republican Party of India (Athavale) is a political party in India. The party is a splinter group of the Republican Party of India and has its roots in the Scheduled Castes Federation led by B. R. Ambedkar. The president of the party is Ramdas Athavale.
Republican Party of India (Athavale) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | RPI (A) |
| President | Ramdas Athavale |
| Founder | Ramdas Athavale |
| Founded | 25 May 1999 |
| Split from | Republican Party of India |
| Headquarters | No.11, Safdurjung Road, New Delhi 110001, India |
| Ideology | Republicanism Ambedkarism Socialism Secularism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colours | Blue |
| Alliance | NDA |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 / 543
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 1 / 245
|
| Seats in Nagaland Legislative Assembly | 2 / 60 |
| Election symbol | |
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History
Ramdas Athawale was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 1990 to 1995 and a cabinet member in the Government of Maharashtra. Subsequently, he was elected to the Parliament of India, representing Mumbai North Central in the 12th Lok Sabha between 1998 and 1999 and the Pandharpur constituency from 1999 to 2004. After the 2004 election, it had a small representation in the Lok Sabha and was a constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance. Its presence is limited to Maharashtra.
All factions of the RPI except Prakash Ambedkar's Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh have reunited to form a Republican Party of India (United).[1]
In 2011, the party aligned itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.[2]
Rakhi Sawant resigned from Rashtriya Aam Party and joined Republican Party of India (A) in June 2014 and expressed her desire to work for dalits.[3][4] Rakhi serves as party's state vice-president and president of woman wing.[5]
In September 2015, the RPI(A) was one of 16 parties in Maharashtra to lose its registration for not submitting audited balance sheets and IT return documents since 2005. Thus they have lost their official election symbols.[6]
Athawale is only member in Member of Parliament in Upper House of the Indian parliament. He is currently Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Department with Disability Affairs from July 2016 in Narendra Modi ministry.[7]
In May 2019, Athawale continued his position as Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.[8]
References
- "The two Ambedkarite parties, the Republican Party of India led by Ramdas Athawale and the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh led by Prakash Ambedkar".
- "Who are Modi's 26 allies in the NDA?". 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- "Rakhi Sawant wants to join RPI". ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, GENERAL ELECTION TO LOK SABHA TRENDS & RESULT 2014. 21 June 2014.
- "Rakhi Sawant joins RPI". 28 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- Rakhi Sawant express her desire to join RPI. News.webindia123.com (21 June 2014). Retrieved on 2016-11-28.
- "16 political parties lose election symbols in the absence of balance sheets". 29 September 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- "Shri Ramdas Athawale Assumes Charge as MoS Social Justice & Empowerment". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- "PM Modi allocates portfolios. Full list of new ministers", Live Mint, 23 June 2019
