Ramdas Athawale, president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), emphasized on Monday that he was given the position of MoS in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment due to his party`s significant contribution to the growth of the NDA, reported news agency ANI.

While speaking with ANI, Ramdas Athawale said, "PM Narendra Modi has decided to make me a Minister of State (MoS) in his cabinet for the third time, even when my party has no Lok Sabha member. Considering the following things, the contribution of the Republican Party to the growth of the NDA and the government, PM Modi gave me this post."