‘BJP always uses regional parties to consolidate itself and then finish them politically’: VBA president Prakash Ambedkar

What’s wrong with it? The BJP admits it works 24×7 to win elections.
Ambedkar: When any political party gets the public mandate, it has to be respected. But when a party in power misuses the power and autonomous institutions to its advantage or against political rivals, then questions are bound to be raised. The BJP is adopting the wrong means. The money power displayed in the present polls is shocking. Ruling party leaders are openly wooing voters with funds. They are not allowing fair play. The politics pursued by the BJP shows they are out to finish all political parties. To achieve their target, they have unleashed central agencies on rivals. The role of the Election Commission is also debatable.

Why did the Opposition’s ‘Vote Chori’ allegation fail in successive elections?
Ambedkar: ‘Vote Chori’ cannot become the central issue in any poll. Whether it is central, state or local body elections in Maharashtra, you cannot go to the polls with this single agenda of vote fraud. When people are not deprived of exercising their vote, why will they believe in vote fraud? The issue here is that a certain party is cleverly adding votes to its advantage. This is a subject that needs to be taken up in court and with the Election Commission. We had filed a writ petition over the issue after the Lok Sabha polls. The Opposition parties did not support Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

With the Congress deciding to go solo in the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, a split in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) appears evident.
Ambedkar: Whether it is the INDIA front or the MVA, unity is a big question. When the Shiv Sena (UBT) joined hands with the MNS, they did not consult the Congress. Now, when the Congress has taken a decision to contest independently, there are no reasons why Uddhav Thackeray or Sharad Pawar should sulk. In the case of NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar has always changed stands to serve his own agenda. The Opposition is weakest in Maharashtra. Nobody wants to speak against the BJP. The reason is obvious: fear of central agencies. Now, being in politics, there are skeletons in every cupboard. So, the choice before the Opposition leaders is freedom or prison. The majority have chosen freedom over jail.

What is the VBA’s political stand in local body polls?
Ambedkar: Fortunately, I have always pursued politics, which is not driven by electoral outcome or power. Therefore, we have stood our ground and survived with our support base intact. Unlike others, I have never hesitated to speak against the RSS or the BJP.  I am neither afraid of losing freedom nor going to prison. Ideally, the VBA is ready to join like-minded parties that will fight the RSS and the BJP.

Will the ‘Maharashtra versus Gujarat’ plank raised by the Opposition work in polls?
Ambedkar: I have been consistently voicing the issue – why is the Centre taking everything from sports to industrial projects to Gujarat? From the Cricket World Cup final to the Commonwealth Games, Gujarat has become the most favoured destination. As a result, Narendra Modi has earned the tag of ‘PM of Gujarat’. He is the first PM who is blatantly focused on his home state instead of India.

What’s your view on conflict within the ruling Mahayuti?
Ambedkar: There are sharp differences within Mahayuti constituents. After the landslide victory in the Assembly polls, the BJP seems to be downsizing its alliance partners – Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. What has happened to Shinde and Ajit Pawar was expected. The BJP has always used regional parties to consolidate itself and then finish them politically. It is not surprising. This is the model of their ideological mentor, RSS.