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Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar made a significant appearance on Friday as he attended a crucial meeting of the Opposition alliance to deliberate on seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming national polls scheduled for this summer. This development follows the recent communication sent to Ambedkar by the alliance on January 30, extending an invitation for VBA’s inclusion in the coalition.
Key leaders from various parties, including Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’s Sanjay Raut, Congress state chief Nana Patole, former chief minister Ashok Chavan, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad, were among those present at the meeting.
Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s reported interest in incorporating Ambedkar into the alliance reflects an acknowledgment of his significant following among socially backward communities. While the Congress and NCP leaders had initially expressed reservations, the recent internal dynamics within Shiv Sena and NCP appear to have influenced a shift in perspective.
The electoral impact of VBA’s performance in the 2019 national polls, particularly in several constituencies where it affected the Congress-NCP combine’s prospects, underscores the strategic importance of including Ambedkar’s party in the alliance. Notably, VBA had formed an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the previous polls, resulting in significant electoral gains.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) already in alliance with Ramdas Athawale’s Republican Party of India (A) in Maharashtra, Ambedkar’s potential entry into the Opposition coalition is expected to consolidate Dalit votes and enhance the alliance’s electoral prospects.
As Maharashtra holds the distinction of sending the second-highest number of lawmakers (48) to the 543-member Lok Sabha, the inclusion of VBA in the Opposition alliance assumes significance in shaping the political landscape of the state and influencing the national electoral narrative.
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