Republican Party of India (United) explained

The Republican Party of India (United), or RPI(U) is a coalition of many factions of the Republican Party of India (RPI). It was formed in preparation for the 2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. The party was initially led by Rajendra Gavai, Jogendra Kawade, T.M. Kamble, and others but Gavai's faction later split from the united party. The group has since suffered internal strife similar to the disputes prior to the coalition's creation.^[1] Several parties still claim to be RPI.^[2]

The RPI(U) was part of the Republican Left Democratic Front coalition in Maharashtra preceding the state's 2009 election.

Membership

The RPI(U) currently includes:

• Peoples Republican Party, led by Jogendra Kawade
• Republican Party of India of T. M. Kamble
• Republican Party of India of B. C. Kamble
• Republican Party of India of Rajabhau Khobragade^[3]
• Republican Party of India (Dhale)
• Republican Party Of India (Mogha)
• Republican Party Of India (Talwatkar)
• Republican Party of India (Sivaraj)
• Indian Republican Party (Dalit Panther) of Namdeo Dhasal
• Bahujan Mahasangh of Makhram Pawar

References

1. Web site: Poke Me: Has Indian politics failed BR Ambedkar? . timesofindia-economictimes . 16 April 2015 . 5 September 2015.
2. Web site: TNN . RPI factions clash on Ambedkar death anniversary . The Times of India . 7 December 2014 . 5 September 2015.
3. News: Uttam Khobragade, leader of Ambedkar's Republican Party of India, however, said despite Ambedkar's opposition to Hinduism competition among parties to claim his legacy was a positive development for Dalits..