Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Ramdas Athawale, president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), declared his wish to run from Maharashtra`s Shirdi constituency, which he feels will considerably improve his party`s chances.

In an interview with ANI on Saturday, Athawale said, "I think the Republican Party (/topic/republican-party) should get one seat in Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Republican Party is present countrywide. People want me to come to Lok Sabha. I have repeatedly said that I am in Rajya Sabha till 2026 but people want me to come to Lok Sabha. So I feel that I should get a ticket from Shirdi to the Lok Sabha. I have lost there once. But the situation there is favourable now."

Athawale revealed that he had discussed his ambitions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. He emphasised the importance of RPI obtaining at least one ticket, noting that failure to do so would not make a good impression on society.