Mumbai, Aug 18 - Around 15 factions of the Republican Party of India (RPI) Tuesday announced plans to contest unitedly the forthcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and maintain equidistance from the ruling Democratic Front and the opposition alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena.

Addressing mediapersons here, three leaders - Ramdas Athavale (RPI-Athavale), Rajendra Gavai (RPI-Gavai) and Jogendra Kawade (RPI-Kawade) - said the parties would fight the elections under the banner of RPI since this was the only faction recognized by the Election Commission of India with a permanent symbol of rising sun.

However, the group does not include another important faction, the Bharipa Bahuj Mahasangh (BBM) headed by Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of the late B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constituition.

When asked about this, Kawade said the BBM was not invited because it is not a Republican Party.