Prakash Ambedkar quits MVA, decides to go solo
In a big blow to the primary Opposition in Maharashtra, the VBA chief says he has forged a tieup with Maratha quota activist Manoj JarangePatil; Shiv Sena and Congress still keen on an alliance
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar delivered another blow to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Wednesday with his announcement that the VBA would go it alone in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. His decision comes after reports of cracks developing in the MVA over seatsharing talks.
Mr. Ambedkar, who is the grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, has announced an alternative ‘coalition’ of the VBA with community outfits and leaders like the OBC Mahasangh and Maratha quota activist Manoj JarangePatil.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ambedkar said he had met and spoken at length with Mr. JarangePatil at the latter’s village AntarwaliSarathi in Jalna district, and that the activist had asked for time till March 30 to deliberate with his supporters on the proposed alliance.
The VBA chief announced a first list of eight candidates for seats in the Vidarbha division of the State that go to polls in the first phase of the general election. Mr. Ambedkar, a former threeterm MP from Akola, will be his party’s candidate from his bastion.
‘Resisted being used’
Taking potshots at the MVA coalition (comprising Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, and the Sharad Pawarled NCP), Mr. Ambedkar said the MVA had merely wished to use his party as “a tool” to defend the interests of dynastic politics. “But we have resisted that move,” he said.
However, careful not to be smeared with the label of acting as the “BJP’s Bteam”, Mr. Ambedkar said that the VBA would support the Congress candidate, Vikas Thakre, for the
Nagpur Lok Sabha seat.
He added that the party would also support the candidature of OBC leader Prakash Shendge for the Sangli Lok Sabha seat.
“I had a detailed discussion with Manoj JarangePatil. We will discuss about the remaining seats after March 30. It has been decided that we will not be haggling for seats, but that we will give tickets to candidates from economicallybackward sections of society with a clean record…I know there will be a lot of talk over our decision, but if I know the pulse of the people, they are eager for change,” Mr. Ambedkar said.
Talks to induct the VBA into the MVA had been on for several weeks, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP leadership insisting that the VBA was already a bonafide constituent of the MVA coalition — a statement refuted by Mr. Ambedkar.
MVA attempts patch-up
Reacting to Mr. Ambedkar’s decision, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the MVA was still eager for an alliance with Mr. Ambedkar.
Senior Congressman Balasaheb Thorat said: “It is our wish the VBA remain with us given that is essential for all likeminded parties to stay together to save democracy. We have sincerely tried to include Mr. Ambedkar within the MVA and hope he changes his decision.”
The VBA contesting the election alone could potentially wreak havoc on the prospects of MVA candidates, particularly those of the Congress and the Sharad Pawarled NCP, whose vote base is similar to that of the VBA’s.
This scenario had played out in the 2019 general election when the VBA, then in alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM had caused the defeat of at least nine Congress candidates.