Pune : Dr. Siddharth Dhende, former Deputy Mayor of Pune Municipal Corporation, has resigned from the Republican Party of India (RPI). He submitted his resignation to party leader Ramdas Athawale, expressing regret over the lack of respect shown to RPI within the Mahayuti alliance.
Speaking to Town Connect, Dr. Siddharth Dhende remarked that while Ramdas Athawale was appointed to the Union Cabinet three times by the BJP, RPI members have been excluded from roles in corporations or constitutional posts. He noted that in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti did not allocate a single seat to the RPI, with a similar situation unfolding in the Assembly elections. Dr.Dhende described this treatment as “political untouchability” towards the RPI within the Mahayuti.
Dr. Dhende stated that the RPI has supported the Mahayuti alliance for the past ten years, but the party is now being taken for granted. “This has disappointed Ambedkarite followers, and as their representative, I have submitted my resignation,” he said.
Ajit Pawar is a casteist Leader
Dr. Siddharth Dhende criticized Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, accusing him of displaying strong caste-based bias. Dhende noted that the Supreme Court had directed the state government to submit data needed for the promotion of backward class government employees. However, Pawar has not provided this data, resulting in a lack of promotions for these employees in Maharashtra. In contrast, the Karnataka government supplied the required data, allowing for the promotion of backward class employees there.
