Ambedkar, Owaisi to unite for polls; setback for Oppn?

MUMBAI: In a major political move, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) is all set to forge an electoral alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

This move is perceived to be a setback to the proposed grand alliance of Opposition parties , as there could be a split in Dalit and Muslim votes in the state, opine political analysts. The BBMAIMIM alliance will have an impact on electoral arithmetic, and could thus turn out to be an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Political commentator Prakash Bal said, “The alliance can spoil the chances of the Congress-led alliance, thus benefitting the BJP.”

The move comes after Owaisi recently urged Ambedkar to take a lead in forming an alternative alliance with like-minded parties. The duo will share a dais on October 2 at Aurangabad where they will spell out their future stance.

According to Ambedkar, who is Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s grandson, the alliance with AIMIM is sealed. “BBM’S state unit decided to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections with the AIMIM,” he said. When quizzed about AIMIM’S communal tag, Ambedkar described the party as nationalist. “Their credentials are secular,” he said. However, Ambedkar also stressed his alliance offer with the Congress-led Opposition parties still stands. “We asked Congress for 12 Lok Sabha seats, which they lost in the last two polls. If they agree, we will align with the Opposition,” he said .

AIMIM’S Aurangabad legislator Imtiyaz Jaleel said, “This alliance will give Dalits, Muslims and other backward classes (OBCS) their legitimate due, which Congress had deprived them of in 70 years.”