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The presidents of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), Prakash Ambedkar and Raju Shetti respectively, are keeping mainstream political parties guessing about whether they were ready for pre-poll alliance in view of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Both Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP are keen on Ambedkar and Shetti joining them. At a Congress meeting two days ago Congress chief Nana Patole had said that the Congress “wants all like minded parties to jointly fight the BJP-led coalition”, for which he expressed willingness to have VBA and SSS on board with MVA. The decision is to project a united Opposition front against the ruling Shinde-led Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
VBA president Prakash Ambedkar said, “I have always maintained that we should forge an alliance to get rid of BJP/ RSS. But Congress and NCPs opposition is limited to electoral politics.”
The grandson of BR Ambedkar said, “My politics is to bring socio-economic transformation, not to win seats and come to power. If any party is willing to subscribe to VBA politics we welcome them.”
Ambedkar believes that mainstream parties, both ruling and Opposition, have a common goal—to win maximum seats and grab power. “But then what about the larger agenda of change? Nobody is willing to debate on it,” he said.
Ambedkar, who has embarked on expanding the scope of his organisation beyond OBC, by focusing on the poor and deprived Marathas, said, “Maratha quota is justified. The reservation cause can be resolved within months, only political will is needed. But established mainstream parties in power at the Centre and state are using the reservation cause to push their own agenda.”
Earlier, MVA constituents—Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and Sena (UBT)—had expressed the importance of bringing all anti-BJP parties together. Political leaders in MVA have, over the last few months, been saying that to fight the BJP-led coalition they will have to focus on each and every LS and Assembly seat, and that they need to stay united to avoid division of votes.
As per a Congress leader, “At the meeting, it was suggested that we offer Akola LS seat to Ambedkar and Hatkanangle LS seat to Raju Shetti.” The MVA is open to set aside these two constituencies for VBA and SSS leaders, he said.
Even Sena (UBT ) president Uddhav Thackeray has been appealing to all like-minded parties to make the fight against BJP a common goal for 2024 LS and Assembly elections.
Ambedkar who is in alliance with Sena (UBT) has expressed confidence over giving the BJP-led coalition a tough fight.
“VBA and Sena (UBT) are a force to reckon with. They can fight the BJP-led coalition in Maharashtra. Just the two parties, without Congress and Sharad-led NCP can play spoiler for BJP.”
In 2019, VBA bagged a large number of votes that led to Congress–NCP losing 9 Lok Sabha and 24 Assembly seats.
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On the other hand Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) which is championing the cause of sugarcane growers has decided to remain neutral. Raju Shetti had contested from Hatkanangale LS seat in 2009 and 2014 and won. In 2019, Shetti lost the LS polls.
When the MVA government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray came to power in 2019, SSS had pledged support. However, just two years later, it had expressed disappointment, alleging that Congress, NCP (then undivided) and Sena (undivided) were slighting the smaller alliance partners. Thereupon, Shetti severed ties with MVA in April 2022.
The farmer leader said, “My only agenda is to ensure justice to cane growers. My fight is for higher remuneration to cane farmers. Sugar mills should not be exploiting them.” Shetti has also indicated that he prefers to distance himself from both Maha Yuti and MVA, as both BJP and Congress-NCP have failed to ensure farmers their rightful dues.
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