VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar had earlier given the formula of 12 seats to each party of the MVA and the remaining 12 for the VBA. (Image: PTI/File)
The Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting to finalise seat-sharing in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha polls was to take place this week but it was rescheduled since senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the state
Miffed over the delay in seat-sharing in Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar has written to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking direct talks. His party is in alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state, of which the Congress is a constituent.
“I understand there is a lack of concurrence between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) on at least 10 seats and between Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) on at least five, which are the prime reasons why the MVA is taking time to finalise the seat-sharing formula,” he wrote.
Ambedkar said he had also approached Maharashtra Congress incharge Ramesh Chennithala. “In our telephonic conversation, Ramesh Chennithala told me that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is adamant on contesting on 18 seats that it won last time,” he wrote.
Complaining about the state Congress leadership, the VBA chief said: “As I was assured that by the Congress, Balasaheb Thorat will hold further talks with us but it has not happened; hence, I am informing you,” he wrote.
Ambedkar had earlier given the formula of 12 seats to each party of the MVA and the remaining 12 for the VBA. This formula was not accepted and, according to a source, Ambedkar had told the MVA that he wanted to contest on 17 seats but Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar asked him to give a list of seats where they were fully confident about winning.
The MVA meeting to finalise seat-sharing was to take place this week but it was rescheduled since senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Maharashtra. All party leaders will be busy till March 17, as the yatra is ending in Mumbai on that day.
While the Ambedkar-led VBA joined hands with Thackeray’s Shiv Sena after the split, it remains to be seen if he will wait or announce his own candidates for the general election – much like TMC boss Mamata Banerjee did for her party in West Bengal on March 10.
