Chhota Rajan’s brother gets RPI ticket from Phaltan

Deepak Nikhalje, brother of gangster Chhota Rajan, is all set to contest the Assembly election from Phaltan constituency in Satara as a candidate of the Republican

Deepak Nikhalje, brother of gangster Chhota Rajan, is all set to contest the Assembly election from Phaltan constituency in Satara as a candidate of the Republican Party of India (RPI). The Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance gave six seats to the RPI. As RPI is an ally of the BJP, Nikhalje will contest the polls on the BJP’s lotus symbol.

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This is Nikhalje’s second attempt at the Assembly polls. He had contested from the Chembur seat in 2014 as the RPI candidate, but lost. It is a seat reserved for a candidate belonging to the Scheduled Caste. “Deepak Nikhalje was our candidate for the Chembur seat, but as the Shiv Sena refused to give it to us, we decided to field him from Phaltan,” said Ramdas Athawale, RPI chief. “I was expecting at least 10 seats. I think the Sena is still angry as I allied with the BJP in the 2014 polls, dumping them [which is why they gave us six seats]. I was forced to support the BJP as they elected me to the Rajya Sabha. Had the Sena given me a Rajya Sabha nomination then, I would have stayed with them,” said Athawale.

Nikhalje said he was confident of winning the seat, as he maintained good contacts with the electorate. “This is my village and I have been in regular touch with the electorate,” he said.

Nikhalje was booked last year for allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman under the pretext of helping her financially and later promising to marry her. An FIR was filed at Tilak Nagar police station and was later transferred to Panvel taluka police station.

Commenting on the nomination, NCP leader Nawab Malik said the BJP has been encouraging goons.