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The political landscape in Maharashtra sees another significant development as Prakash Ambedkar, the President of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) and the grandson of Dr. BR Ambedkar, reiterates his interest in joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and INDIA alliance ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In a letter addressed to MVA leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray, Ambedkar emphasized the necessity for a fair seat-sharing arrangement. His proposed “12 12 12 12 formula” aims to allocate 12 seats to each participating party, deeming it a ‘conflict-free’ strategy to resolve the ongoing tussle over seat distribution in Maharashtra.
Highlighting the significance of the 48 seats in Maharashtra in challenging the current government in 2024, Ambedkar’s letter underlined the importance of unity within the alliance. The VBA’s proposal advocates for an equal partnership among the MVA parties – Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Indian National Congress, and VBA – to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Expressing a singular focus on defeating the ruling party, Ambedkar emphasized, “Defeating Modi should be the only priority for MVA.” He urged the MVA constituents to deliberate and decide on this matter, stressing the necessity of prioritizing the interests of the people of Maharashtra over internal disagreements.
This proposition follows VBA’s previous expression of interest in joining the Opposition bloc, INDIA, underscoring their readiness to collaborate if invited.
However, amidst these discussions, the MVA faces internal debates regarding seat sharing. Shiv Sena’s demand for 23 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra sparked further debates within the alliance. The Congress party responded, acknowledging the complexity of seat sharing and emphasizing the need to prevent internal conflicts within the INDIA bloc.
Sanjay Nirupam, a Congress leader, echoed the sentiment of unity, urging an end to infighting within the alliance. “If all parties in the INDIA block need to fight together and defeat the BJP, then we need to stop infighting,” Nirupam remarked, expressing concerns about the extensive demand for seats by Shiv Sena.
As Maharashtra’s political landscape evolves and discussions intensify, the focus remains on finding a consensus that harmonizes the interests of all alliance partners while bolstering their collective aim to challenge the ruling powers in the upcoming elections.
