Suspense continues on the role of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) headed by Prakash Ambedkar, and the number of seats it may be offered to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is likely to finalise its seat-sharing pact for the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, at the last round of talks scheduled for March 6, official sources said here on Tuesday.
However, suspense continues on the role of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) headed by Prakash Ambedkar, and the number of seats it may be offered to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, besides satisfying the demands of other smaller allies.
The VBA stumped the Opposition bloc last week by seeking at least 27 parliamentary seats, plus a unilateral choice of its candidates in certain constituencies, which was reportedly ‘unacceptable’ to several MVA constituents.
Claiming that the VBA is fully geared up for parliamentary polls Ambedkar has threatened several times that he is prepared to go solo in all 48 constituencies if the MVA alliance fails to consider his demands.
On Monday, NCP-SP National General Secretary, Dr. Jitendra Awhad, publicly appealed to Ambedkar to join the seat-sharing efforts and help safeguard democracy and the Indian Constitution in the interest of future generations.
As per current indicators, the MVA may allot the VBA around 10 per cent (four or five) of the Lok Sabha seats, plus three or four seats are likely to go to other smaller allies.
The remaining 40 constituencies shall be divided among the major MVA allies, i.e. Congress-NCP-SP-Shiv Sena-UBT as per their formula, plus they would also accommodate their own allies, if needed, said a NCP-SP leader.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the top leaders slated to seal the deal — barring any last-minute glitches — include Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, NCP-SP President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena-UBT President Uddhav Thackeray, VBA President Ambedkar, and the representatives of the six other smaller parties.
Meanwhile, perturbed by the dilly-dallying stance of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar on the seat-sharing alliance, a senior Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader on Monday reached out to him, appealing to “convey a different to the masses”.
NCP (SP) National General Secretary Jitendra Awhad has penned a note to Prakash Ambedkar, saying that the next generation will not forgive them if the Constitution is tampered with, given the “current scenario”.
Awhad pointed out how he always propagated the progressive ideas and ideology of great icons like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jyotirao Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, among the people of Maharashtra.
“We also have the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. With full respect to that legacy, I would like to say that your goal and our aims are the same — that is, to save the Constitution and Democracy. We have to ensure that this priceless gift from Dr. Ambedkar is safe, and we are ready to pay the price for it,” said Awhad.
He cautioned that if the Constitution is tampered with and Democracy endangered, then the future generation will “never forgive us”, and urged Prakash Ambedkar to help convey a different message to the masses — though the VBA has not reacted so far.
“Let’s have a meeting of all like-minded parties in the state on priority,” said Awhad, in view of the confusion prevailing over the VBA’s status in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
MVA leaders pointed out that in the past few days, the changing stance, unilateral statements, demands and claims on seats or candidates, have led to doubts and uncertainties among the Congress-NCP (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT) and other allies as they struggle to cobble an amicable seat-sharing arrangement.
Athawale Seeks One Seat in UP
Republican Party of India (A) president and Union social justice minister Ramdas Athawale has said that his party has sought one Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh from the BJP.
He said that his party will work to make the BJP and its allies win all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Athawale said once the RPI was strong in UP, but subsequently the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) got strengthened and his party weakened. But now the Mayawati-led BSP was not strong anymore, he added.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function on Monday evening, Athawale said the INDIA bloc partners — SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi — will fail in the state as they had earlier.
He said Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav do not respect the Constitution while Prime Minister Narendra Modi bows to it and he has even named the new Parliament building ‘Samvidhaan Sadan’.