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Prakash Ambedkar, the leader of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), who parted ways from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), reiterated on Sunday that his party would not contemplate forging an alliance with the MVA. Ambedkar further asserted that the VBA is already prepared to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently. He also criticized the ongoing discord between the Congress and Shiv Sena over seat-sharing.
Ambedkar Rebuffs Congress’ Alliance Overture
Ambedkar’s statements followed an eleventh-hour invitation from Congress’ state unit chief Nana Patole to rejoin the alliance on Sunday. However, Ambedkar rejected the offer, stating that the VBA had already initiated its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. After declining the offer, Ambedkar remarked, “It’s too late now. We have embarked on our journey and are already proceeding independently for the Lok Sabha elections.”
Ambedkar’s Scathing Critique of MVA Leaders
Additionally, Ambedkar censured the MVA for its internal conflicts, highlighting the lack of cooperation between its constituent parties. He pointed out the hostile language employed by leaders of both the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) as indicative of their focus on targeting each other rather than working together. Ambedkar expressed disappointment with Congress’s inability to manage the situation, attributing it to a lack of decisive leadership within the party.
Furthermore, Ambedkar underscored the concerns of district-level Congress leaders regarding the impact of state-level alliances on elections. He said that these leaders were now devising strategies at the local level to counter the ruling alliance. Ambedkar further warned that, as a result, many leaders might defect to other parties before the assembly elections.
Lok Sabha Elections Schedule
As Maharashtra prepares for the forthcoming general elections, scheduled in five phases for 48 constituencies, from April 19 to May 20, the nationwide polls to be held across seven phases will commence on April 19 and conclude on June 1, with results announced on June 4.
