NCP, Congress putting roadblocks to Uddhav Thackeray-Prakash Ambedkar alliance?

Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut says MVA leaders are “fully aware” of alliance talks. Prakash Ambedkar claims that while only a formal announcement remained to be made between Sena (UBT) and VBA, the NCP and Congress were opposed to their alliance

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Mumbai: Speculation is rife that alliance partners of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction – UBTSS), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress are reportedly opposed to a potential alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) ahead of the Maharashtra civic polls.

Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday clarified that the Congress and NCP were fully aware of their talks with Prakash Ambedkar led VBA. He argued that it was necessary for the VBA and the Sena (UBT) to come together in order to overthrow the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at the Centre and the State.

Speaking to media persons in Mumbai, the senior UBTSS leader remarked, “If Prakash Ambedkar and the Sena (UBT) come together, then this alliance will be the harbinger of change in Maharashtra and the country. A Shivshakti-Bhimshakti alliance would be a bulwark of political strength for the State and country, given the current manner in which politics is being played today.”

Replying to queries over Prakash Ambedkar’s allegations that that the NCP was overtly opposed while the Congress was covertly objecting to the proposed alliance, Raut said that the leadership ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ (MVA alliance) was fully aware of these talks and had been apprised accordingly.

“Who is opposed and who is not, we can only know all this later…however, I do not think anyone in mainstream politics ought to object to our alliance with Prakash Ambedkar,” remarked Raut. He further added that Prakash Ambedkar’s recent remarks on the potential alliance had been “very positive” indeed.

On Tuesday, VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar while speaking to newspersons had implied that while the decision of the Sena (UBT) and the VBA to join hands had been made, the NCP and the Congress were opposed to such an alliance.

The grandson of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar further alleged, “The current situation is this that the Sena (UBT) and we (VBA) have decided…it only remains for us to announce this alliance. Uddhav Thackeray’s party would like to get the NCP and Congress on board this alliance as well. However, sources tell us that while the NCP is overtly opposed to the VBA, the Congress is covertly objecting to us joining the MVA.”

The VBA chief further said that while it was up to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction to take a decision regarding the Congress and the NCP, as per his party’s discussions with the Sena (UBT), the VBA was prepared to contest on 83 seats in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

In recent months, a proposed alliance between Uddhav Thackeray led Sena faction and Prakash Ambedkar led VBA has been creating a buzz in Maharashtra.

After Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s coup toppled his MVA government, the beleaguered Uddhav Thackeray has been eagerly seeking new allies. The VBA is sailing in the same boat after severing its alliance with the AIMIM.

However, given the fact that the VBA-AIMIM alliance had played havoc during the 2019 Lok Sabha election by eating into Congress and NCP votes, the latter parties, who are now Uddhav Thackeray’s allies, are wary of the VBA’s induction in the coalition given the similarities of their respective vote banks.