VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar challenges Uddhav Thackeray's loyalty to MVA

Prakash Ambedkar, the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi candidate from Akola district at his residence Yashwant Bhavan at Dwarka Nagri, Akola on Thursday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar has raised concerns about Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray's commitment to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, both at the state and national levels, following the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 result.

Ambedkar asked Thackeray to officially declare his support for the Congress-MVA combination, particularly ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections in October, stated an IANS report.

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According to the report, the VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar urged Thackeray to provide formal assurances to voters about his continuous support for the MVA coalition, noting that without such clarity, all words would be useless.

"Why can't Thackeray make this written declaration to the voters now… Let it be clear to the public, otherwise, all this is meaningless," Ambedkar was quoted as saying implying that there's no unity in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Earlier, Ambedkar hinted at a possible move in alliances following the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 result, implying that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) may partner with the BJP, potentially becoming the largest party, the report added.

According to the report, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi had begun conversations with MVA allies--including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP)--over seat-sharing. However, differences over seat allocation resulted in the failure of negotiations.

Despite efforts to reconcile, the VBA chose to compete separately in around 45 constituencies, with the exception of Nagpur, Kolhapur, and Baramati, where it supported MVA candidates, the IANS report.

Ambedkar chastised the MVA, notably the Congress, for failing to field any Muslim candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, comparing it with the VBA's inclusion of candidates from minority communities and marginalised parts of society.

In another conversation with ANI, VBA chief Prakash Ambed spoke on educational reservations for Muslims. He said, "PM Modi is unaware of certain facts. The High Court and the Supreme Court have stood by the educational reservation for Muslims. Once the Supreme Court has stood behind that reservation, there is no place where the Parliament will interfere with it. Now education reservation for Muslims will become a factor. And that is to move the Hindu votes. PM Modi is saying that we will cancel that 5 per cent reservation."