Why are the mainstream players jittery?
In 1996, when RPI was united, we polled 1.5 to 2 lakh votes in every constituency. The Dalits alone constitute 12-13% of votes and the voting percentage among them is always 100%. The presence of the Peasant and Workers Party, the Left front, the Samajwadi Party and local players makes us a force to reckon with. Why have you distanced yourself from the Cong-NCP? The RPI worker is angry with the Congress. My defeat in Shirdi in the Parliament polls was seen as a betrayal by the Congress. It was equated to the first elections held in 1952 when the Congress defeated Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Central Mumbai. I realised that I had worked for 19 years to consolidate the Congress. The time has come to revive the socio-economic Dalit agitations by strengthening the RPI. Are you determined to teach the Congress a lesson? Well, I have learnt a lesson. My foremost challenge is to revive the RPI to combat socio-economic and political challenges. Will your decision help Sena-BJP? The front is strivi
