Decision on including VBA in INDIA bloc likely tomorrow: Prakash Ambedkar

Underlining the importance of alliances, he said, “To fight the BJP-RSS, all like-minded Opposition parties should come together. Without an alliance, it will not be able to give a tough fight to the BJP-led governments in the Centre and Maharashtra.”

However, Ambedkar expressed concern over the attitude of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) against the VBA. “The VBA has already made its stand clear in the past. We have always advocated alliance. At the Shivaji Park rally held last month, ‘Sanvidhan ke sanman mein’, we showed our strength. Now, the ball is in the Congress-NCP court,” he added.

The VBA has already started preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls at the zilla level. The party is reaching out to “vanchit” – oppressed and suppressed – sections across caste, community and religious lines.

Referring to the ongoing reservation protests in Maharashtra, Ambedkar said, “It is very unfortunate. For the first time, the BJP-RSS has divided people on caste and community lines. This is a betrayal of the people’s trust.”

According to Ambedkar, “In the past, there were protests and politics but the society was not so fragmented. The right-wing politics under the BJP-RSS is dangerous. They are creating a wedge between people by showing them their castes. Such divisive politics is dangerous and detrimental for the nation.”

The VBA leader held Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responsible for the Maratha versus OBC reservation politics. “Why can’t they resolve the Maratha reservation issue? They are in the government at the state and central levels. The point is, they want to keep the issue unresolved. The polarisation between the Marathas and OBCs is their strategy to gain political advantage,” he observed.

The grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar also expressed disappointment over the Opposition’s role at the ongoing Winter Session of the state legislature in Nagpur. “Where is the Opposition? You don’t feel their presence. They are not even raising hard questions against the government. They are all surrendering before ruling parties,” he observed.

The Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) should realise the importance of collective leadership, but their problem is that they cannot accommodate the smaller parties. They don’t realise the importance of alliances, he remarked.

Ambedkar cited the example of the recently held Assembly polls in five states. “The Congress dismissed the Samajwadi Party. They refused to share space with regional parties. As a result, the BJP emerged stronger and won the elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.”

“We will wait and watch what happens in the INDIA meet. Thereafter, we will take our own decision. If they include us in the INDIA bloc, well and good. If we are skipped, we will go it alone,” the VBA chief said.

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