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Uncertainty prevails over induction of Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA into INDIA bloc
The Hindu
Prakash Ambedkar again stated that while the VBA was trying to help the Congress fight the BJP, he was being rebuffed by both the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction.
Amid the uncertainty hovering over the induction of Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in the Opposition INDIA bloc, senior Congressman and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday said he personally favoured taking the VBA along in Maharashtra as it would help prevent vote fragmentation in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha election.
“It is my personal opinion that he [Prakash Ambedkar] should be taken into the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). It is beneficial for both of us as it will help prevent fragmentation of votes, which is what the BJP is trying to achieve by keeping Opposition parties divided,” he said.
The Congressman said that a decision on smaller parties wishing to join the INDIA bloc would be taken following an internal party discussion in Delhi on December 29.
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“Once that is done, it clears the way for all the other parties who wish to join the Congress. We want to go to the polls by taking VBA with us,” Mr. Chavan added.
Mr. Ambedkar, who has often expressed exasperation at the Congress’s delay in inducting the VBA into the Opposition alliance, had earlier hinted that his party would go it alone on all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
Currently, he is allied with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra. The Sena (UBT) is, in turn, allied with the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.