Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday backed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hours after Supreme Court directed latter to face trial for allegedly failing to furnish details of two pending criminal cases. Union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment expressed confidence that Fadnavis, who will be leading BJP charge in October 21 state Assembly polls, will come out clean.

Maha CM To Face Trial For Omission Of Criminal Cases In Poll Stmt: SC

Athawale backs Fadnavis

"A lot of times, allegations hurled are politically motivated. re is thing wrong if a court finds anything worth investigating. As far as I kw, Devendra Fadnavis ji has been a representative with an unblemished track record. His far had a clean im and so does he," Athawale said.

READ: SC To Prounce Verdict In Plea Against Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

He said SC ruling would t have any impact on upcoming Maharashtra polls and claimed work done in state by Fadnavis and by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Centre will help NDA. Athawale welcomed Shiv Sena's decision to field Aaditya Thackeray from Worli but downplayed statements by a section of Sena that Yuva Sena chief was being groomed for post of CM.

"re is harm in dreaming since that is an easy job. Shiv Sena (has been) claiming Aaditya Thackeray will be next chief minister. Let m dream. But we are supporting Devendra Fadnavis for CM," he said.

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Athawale, however, said workers of his Republican Party of India (A) in Worli will vote for Aaditya. Speaking about his party's alliance with BJP, Athawale said he hoped RPI(A) would get to fight eight Assembly seats. Queried on chances of RPI(A) candidates fighting on BJP's lotus symbol, Athawale said a suitable decision would be taken in a "day or two".

Maharashtra Assembly Elections

According to anuncement by Election Commission, Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on October 1. It will be held in a single phase and  counting procedure would be conducted on October 24. Maharashtra consists of an assembly of 288 seats.  Election Commission chief Sunil Arora also anunced that last date of mination is on October 4. In 2014 in  Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP and Shiv Sena had contested separately over a dispute over sharing of seats. BJP had won 122 out of 260 seats it had contested while Sena bagged 63 out of 282 seats. After BJP government was formed, Shiv Sena had joined alliance.  Shiv Sena and BJP will contest  Maharashtra Assembly elections toger this time after an anuncement was made over seat-sharing. Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray will become first from his family to contest elections, fighting it out for Worli seat.

READ: Aaditya Thackeray To Contest Maharashtra Polls; 'Howdy Adi,' Says Raut