Exclusive: 'In politics, friends become enemies,' says Prakash Ambedkar

The heat of the electoral field is palpable in Maharashtra as only a little over in less than 24 hours is left for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 to commence The poll battle in the state is scrutinised by everyone as the state sends the second largest number of public representatives to the Lower House of the ParliamentWhile the battle between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi continued to be a focal point the limelight was further divided with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi assuming the centre stage The party chief Prakash Ambedkar who is campaigning in Maharashtra is contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from AkolaAmbedkar in an interview with Midday ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 said that the poll battle in Maharashtra is not between the two alliances but rather between VBA and Bharatiya Janata PartyldquoMaha Vikas Aghadi has been sidelined it is nowhere to be seen The electoral battle in Maharashtra is between the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and we have been campaigning for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 as suchrdquo said the seasoned politician when asked about the electoral fight in the statePrakash Ambedkar on campaigning strategies for Lok Sabha Elections 2024The VBA has been proactively engaging with the community and working for their welfare which the party believes does give them an edgeAmbedkar while responding to a query about their strategy for the polls said that their inclusive politics is their USP and that they are compounding on itAlso Read Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Understanding Sena UBTs power play amp its impact on Maharashtras political landscapeldquoWe have nominated candidates from diverse backgrounds irrespective of their caste or religion Through the candidates we have nominated we are giving out a message that our politics is inclusive Due to our inclusive politics the public side with usrdquo the party supremo said adding that the candidates nominated from the BJP except Pankaja Munde are from the same caste and they belong to the elite groups of their communities This sends a message of not being an inclusive organisation he saidOn failed talks with MVAResponding to a query about the failed talks of seatsharing with Maha Vikas Aghadi and the subsequent decision to fight elections solo he remarked that the constituents of the alliance engage in dynastic politics and prefer keeping the status quo rather than rattling itldquoThe parties Shiv SenaUBT Congress Nationalist Congress PartySP engage in dynastic politics The leaders involved in talks follow orders from the top The top brass of parties engaging in dynastic politics want to ensure their lsquogaddirsquo throne remains intact Meanwhile we believe in inclusive politics when the ideologies do not match how will the alliance workrdquo said AmbedkarThe BJP too is now being consumed by dynastic politics as opposed to what they initially claimed it is very evident from nine seats in Maharashtra he addedWhen asked whether he will be joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the impending state assembly elections Ambedkar said ldquoIn politics friends become enemies and enemies become friends You never know in which direction will the coin flip We are assuming whatever role we have in Lok Sabha Elections 2024 and we will assume whatever role we have to play in state assembly pollsrdquoOn backing Congress in Lok Sabha Elections 2024In a surprising turn of events the VBAmdashwhich was invited to become a part of the coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi mdashannounced they would be going solo in the dress and that they would be backing the Congress leader in seven seatsWhen asked about the development since the two parties do not see eye to eye Prakash Ambedkar said ldquoI felt like Congress was being sandwiched by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar It is also one of the constituents of the alliance and they must be heard too Additionally the seats they are contesting have been BJP strongholdrdquoldquoVanchit Bahujan Aghadirsquos primary goal was to set up a strong opposition against the BJPled NDA We will do everything in our power with the existing circumstances to prevent the BJP from winningrdquo said AmbedkarOn Hindutva politics amp BJPWhen posed with a question about his opinion on Hindutva politics he said ldquoReligious politics is dying down it has even stopped in several areas in the northern partrdquoLooking at people celebrating the consecration of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Ram Mandir the BJP has mistaken it as public support for them People were celebrating because it was a joyous occasion After all a dream that they harboured for years had come true Ambedkar further saidHe added that the BJPrsquos slogan lsquoAb ki bar 400 paarrsquo Is nothing but a catchphrase and that it will not come true He reasons that the craze people had for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is dwindlingSpeaking about PM Modirsquos interview with the news agency ANI he said ldquoPM Modi came across as a happygolucky politician but in the talk I saw the face of a lsquohukumshahrsquo dictator He in a roundabout way told the public that he has set everything up and it seems like a threatrdquoldquoPeople should see this interview recognise the reality and make an informed choice before votingrdquo he appealed to the public