The pact between the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and the Shiv Sena (UBT) has created ripples in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Even before the three principal partners, including the NCP and the Congress, could decide on making VBA the coalition’s fourth arm, its chief Prakash Ambedkar accused Sharad Pawar of always being with the BJP.

With his remark against Pawar on Wednesday, Ambedkar not only upset the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), but also some prominent leaders in the Thackeray Sena. Both Pawar and Ambedkar have been critical of one another for years, but the latter has become more vocal about his view against the former since joining hands with Uddhav Thackeray.