Truce Achieved: VBA President Prakash Ambedkar Agrees to Join MVA’s Seat-Sharing Talks

X: @the_news_21

In a significant turn of events, top leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) successfully diffused the tensions between them and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), paving the way for VBA President Prakash Ambedkar to participate in the Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

This development comes on the heels of Ambedkar’s scathing letter accusing Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole of playing ‘mind games,’ laced with a humorous reference to a popular Bollywood dialogue on ‘chemical locha’ (chemical muddle) from the film “Lage Raho Munnabhai” (2006).

In a conference call held this evening, NCP (SP) state President Jayant Patil and AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala engaged with Ambedkar, assuring him of the Congress’s commitment to inclusivity and cooperation within the MVA alliance.

VBA Chief Spokesperson Siddharth Mokle revealed that during the call, Chennithala conveyed that the AICC had authorized state Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat to lead the seat-sharing discussions with MVA allies. Chennithala urged the VBA to actively participate in these discussions, leading to Ambedkar’s acceptance of the invitation, thus putting an end to the sensitive issue.

Earlier in the day, Ambedkar had outright rejected the MVA’s invitation, accusing Patole of engaging in ‘mind games.’ In response to the formal invite, Ambedkar humorously retorted, “It seems that you (Patole) are playing mind games with the people of Maharashtra or perhaps there is a ‘locha’ in your brain,” referencing the Bollywood blockbuster.

The MVA’s initial communication, signed by its top leaders, prompted Ambedkar to demand the inclusion of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with NCP(SP) President Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray as signatories.

Highlighting the invitation, the MVA pointed out that Ambedkar, given his vocal stance on issues like dictatorship and safeguarding the Constitution, was invited to the seat-sharing talks scheduled for January 25.

Ambedkar, in his response, questioned Patole’s authority, claiming that Congress high-command representatives had clearly stated that Patole lacked decision-making authority for alliance and coalition-related matters in Maharashtra.

Acknowledging the VBA’s commitment to opposition unity for the 2024 parliament polls, Mokle reiterated that defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi required collective efforts from all opposition parties. However, he expressed frustration with the Congress, accusing them of ‘killing time with new excuses each time.’

Bowing to the VBA’s demands, the MVA issued a reinvigorated invite on a letterhead, signed by Patole, NCP (SP) state President Jayant Patil, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, for the 48 Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks, scheduled this afternoon at a private hotel in Nariman Point.

As the dust settles, the resumption of dialogue signals a potential revival of cooperation within the MVA, setting the stage for collaborative efforts against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Also Read: BJP Launches Poll Campaign Amid INDIA Bloc Struggles with Seat-Sharing Woes