<p class="title">The Republican Party of India (A), an ally of the ruling BJP, has fielded Deepak Nikalje, brother of jailed underworld don Chhota Rajan, from Phaltan Assembly constituency in Western Maharashtra.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The RPI, led by Union minister Ramdas Athawale, has been given six seats as part of the seat-sharing deal between the BJP, Shiv Sena and other smaller allies for the October 21 state elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Athawale announced the candidates in Mumbai on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nikalje, who has been with the RPI for several years, had earlier unsuccessfully fought assembly elections from Chembur in Mumbai on the party's ticket.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This time he expressed willingness to fight the election from Phaltan since he hails from that area and has a good network there," said a senior RPI leader.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other five seats where RPI would be fielding candidates are Malshiras in Solapur district, Bhandara and Naigaon in Nanded district, Pathri in Parbhani and Mankhurd- Shivaji Nagar in Mumbai.</p>
<p class="title">The Republican Party of India (A), an ally of the ruling BJP, has fielded Deepak Nikalje, brother of jailed underworld don Chhota Rajan, from Phaltan Assembly constituency in Western Maharashtra.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The RPI, led by Union minister Ramdas Athawale, has been given six seats as part of the seat-sharing deal between the BJP, Shiv Sena and other smaller allies for the October 21 state elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Athawale announced the candidates in Mumbai on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nikalje, who has been with the RPI for several years, had earlier unsuccessfully fought assembly elections from Chembur in Mumbai on the party's ticket.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This time he expressed willingness to fight the election from Phaltan since he hails from that area and has a good network there," said a senior RPI leader.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Other five seats where RPI would be fielding candidates are Malshiras in Solapur district, Bhandara and Naigaon in Nanded district, Pathri in Parbhani and Mankhurd- Shivaji Nagar in Mumbai.</p>