Prakash Ambedkar puts MVA in a spot, but says not preparing to exit

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar asked his party leaders not to attend meetings conducted by MVA.

Pune | Updated: March 5, 2024 04:44 AM IST

2 min read

After Ambedkar on Sunday told his party leaders to stay away from MVA, there were speculations that he was preparing to exit the MVA. (Express Photo)

While Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar has asked his party leaders not to attend meetings conducted by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Lok Sabha seat sharing, he has, however, scotched speculations that he and his party were on the way out. The VBA chief said he wants MVA constituents to sort out their differences as early as possible.

”We are still not in alliance with the MVA. The alliance is yet to happen. So far, the constituents of the MVA cannot sort out their differences over the seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections,” Ambedkar told The Indian Express.

After Ambedkar on Sunday told his party leaders to stay away from MVA, there were speculations that he was preparing to exit the MVA. ”No, we are not going to exit from the MVA. We are there but still not an integral part of MVA. They have still not decided on seat sharing among themselves. And therefore we are still not in the picture,” he said.

Asked whether the VBA’s demand for a large number of seats has put the MVA in a spot, Ambedkar said, ”We have still not made any demands for seats. I have decided to contest from Akola while our party leaders demand a few seats. The demand has still not been placed before the MVA,” said Ambedkar, who contested from the Solapur seat in 2019 and lost.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said they are confident that the VBA would continue to be part of the MVA as it has a major role to play. ”The VBA chief has been vocal against the misrule of the BJP-led Modi government. The MVA contains like-minded parties who want to ensure the end of the Modi government,” he said.

Maharashtra Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress said he expects that seat sharing would be sorted by March 5-6. ”All the three major players in MVA (Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (Shard Pawar faction) are holding talks with the VBA chief. We hope that the seat-sharing will be sorted in the next two to three days,” he said.

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Lok Sabha polls Maha Vikas Aghadi Prakash Ambedkar