Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, Athawale blamed the EC for doing injustice to his party by denying it rising sun symbol of the united RPI despite the face that it enjoyed a majority support among the executive committee and the district committees.

He was also critical of the Commission for not allotting a common symbol to the splinter group from free symbols. "The Delhi High Court has given a directive in this regard. However, the Election Commission has taken a stay on the order," he said.

"The EC has frozen the wheel symbol of Janata Dal in the wake of split in the organisation. Why the Commission failed to take a similar step in case of RPI," he said, alleging it had favoured Gavai-Kawade faction of RPI byproviding the official symbol of the party, rising sun, after the split in the organisation.

Besides, the Commission did not allot a common symbol to the party from the free symbols, he said, adding his party would seek justice in this regard by by approaching court after the elections.

He claimed that the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), led by Sharad Pawar, would emerge victorious in a big way in the coming elections. The front would also play a crucial role in formation of government at the Centre, he predicted. Athawale faction of RPI is contesting four Lok Sabha seats, including Nagpur Lok Sabha seat and as many as 26 Assembly seats in an electoral alliance with the NCP in the State. Of 26 Assembly seats, it is contesting seven Assembly seats in Vidarbha.

The party would try its level best to convince the NCP leadership to give the Nagpur-west seat to the RPI.