Mumbai: After giving a small jolt to the former CM of Maharshtra, Sushilkumar Shinde, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief, Prakash Ambedkar has kept a backup plan. He has filed his papers for a second LS seat on Tuesday, which is also his traditional seat, in the eastern Vidarbha region.
Ambedkar, may now contest from two LS constituencies, unless he withdraws from Solapur at the last minute, which many feel he has done for a political mileage. Ambedkar has a sizeable base in Akola, which was considered to be his stronghold. Ambedkar won from Akola in 1999, but lost to Sanjay Dhotre from the BJP in the next three successive general elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014.
In another development, Ambedkar’s ally, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi has finalised its legislator from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, who will be the candidate for VBA. The Aurangabad LS seat had become a bone of contention between Ambedkar and Owaisi’s party, after judge (retd) BG Kolse-Patil staked claim to the candidacy.
Ambedkar had endorsed Kolse-Patil’s candidacy, it plunged the AIMIM’s state leadership in turmoil after Jaleel, who has been the face for MIM in Maharashtra, threatened to quit and contest as an Independent. Things were sorted after this brief friction between the VBA parties.
“Jaleel has been chosen as the VBA candidate from Aurangabad after an intense meet between Owaisi and the Aurangabad leadership of the AIMIM,” informed AIMIM leader Anjum Inamdar. This meeting was held in Hyderabad. He said Jaleel will file his nomination on March 28.