Kawade said: 'The meeting decided to keep equidistance from both the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliances.'

The decision to forge a united front came after three meetings between the RPI factions. Gavai said they would soon set up a separate manifesto committee, election committee and a steering committee to propel the 'grand alliance.'

Gavai added the united group would attempt to forge alliances with the other Leftist and secular forces and also Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

This is the third time in the past 15 years that an attempt has been made to forge unity among the various Republican parties in the state.