Mumbai, Oct 11 (TIWN) As Maharashtra election battle for 288 seats reaches a crescendo, the smaller allies of both the ruling and opposition parties appear glum about the kind of treatment meted out to them.

The BJP-Shiv Sena has its allies like Union Minister Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India (A), Vinayak Mete's Shiv Sangram, Mahadev Jankar-led Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Sadabhau Khot's Rayat Kranti Sanghatana.

Despite initial chest-thumping that the RPI would not contest under the BJP's 'Lotus' symbol — as mandated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis — at the last minute he concurred.

He announced that the RPI(A) in the larger interest of the 'Maha-Yuti', would contest on the BJP symbol to prevent division of votes and submitted his list of nominees.