Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has officially joined the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) ahead of the upcoming crucial Lok Sabha elections. The development came after days of speculation and discussions Ambedkar's move to join the alliance.
Nana Patole, the State President of Congress, took to X (formerly Twitter) to make the announcement.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Ambedkar will participate in the MVA's meeting on February 2. "Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has been included in Mahavikas Aghadi today. Adv. Balasaheb Ambedkar will participate in the Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting on February 2," Raut said in the post. "Vanchit will undoubtedly bolster the anti-dictatorship struggle in the country. The Constitution of India is in jeopardy, and we must unite to safeguard it."
Ambedkar has been vocal about the need for a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming polls. Despite political differences between VBA and other constituent parties of the Mahavikas Aghadi, the decision to include them in the alliance was announced today, January 30.
Earlier on Tuesday, VBA's state vice-president Dhairyavardhan Pundkar alleged that he was insulted ahead of the MVA meeting at Mumbai's Trident Hotel. The invitation of the meeting to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was extended to VBA. However, Pundkar left the meeting prematurely over alleged disrespect shown towards him.
"After going to discuss the seat allocation formula, we were asked to wait outside. After that, we were kept outside for almost an hour. Are we a constituent party of the Mahavikas Aghadi or not?" Pundkar reportedly said.
Reacting to the announcement, Ambedkar said in a post on X, "Even though VBA’s State Vice-President was not given due respect in the MVA meeting and VBA is not aware nor informed by AICC or by Ramesh Chennithala whether Nana Patole is having any authority to sign any letters for including VBA in MVA alliance, we will join MVA in the next meeting since VBA’s priority is to defeat the BJP-RSS."
