MUMBAI: Maharashtra witnessed a major and significant political development after Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena announced its tie up with Dr BR Ambedkar’s grand-son Prakash Ambedakar led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi on Monday.
However, Vanchit is yet to be part of Maha Vikas Aghadi, but Uddhav Thackeray has ensured that he will ensure that Ambedkar’s front is also part of the grand formidable force MVA against world largest party BJP.
Addressing a joint press conference, Uddhav Thackeray said his grandfather Keshav Thackeray, also known as Prabodhankar Thackeray, and Prakash Ambedkar's grandfather, legendary social icon and jurist B R Ambedkar, were contemporaries who admired each other and worked to eradicate social evils and bad practices.
"Now there are some bad practices in politics and to eradicate them, the inheritors of these two leaders, and people around them, have come together to protect the country's interest. We are coming together to ensure democracy is alive. BJP and its allies want to break the houses in broad daylight. We need to end this vindictive politics. Earlier also such efforts were taken, but now both strong forces – Shiv Shakti and Bhim Shakti have to come together for the larger interest of the country. Our common agenda is Nation First,” said Uddhav Thackeray.
On the other hand, Prakash Ambedkar said that in 2019 Lok Sabha, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi took the significant votes and people had seen their power. “BJP is misusing central agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) to end the Opposition. PM Narendra Modi is not only finishing his political opponents, but he is finishing leadership within his party as well. There is no leadership after Modi and this is not good for democracy and the country. We both had a lot of similarities therefore decided to work together,” Ambedkar said.
He clarified he has ideological differences with NCP chief Sharad Pawar but no personal enmity and agenda against him. “Today, we are allied with Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena and hope that we will be part of Maha Vikas Aghadid as well. Uddhav Thackeray has taken the responsibility to resolve the differences. Let’s hope,” Ambedkar said.
In 2019, Congress and the NCP lost the eleven seats that included former chief minister Ashok Chavan in Nanded and Sushil Kumar Shinde in Solapur due to Prakash Ambedar led Vanchit Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi and lost 23 seats in Maharashtra state assembly elections. Earlier, MIM was part of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.
“Prakash Ambedkar has a significant following in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray who faced the major jolt by Eknath Shinde and BJP need Ambedkar’s front to expand his party base and even give the formidable fight to BJP as well,” said political observer.
Speaking about the alliance, which has been forged ahead of civic polls due in several cities, including Mumbai and Thane, Ambedkar said the coming together of the VBA and Shiv Sena (UBT) was the start of the politics of change.
The alliance talks between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the VBA were underway for the last few months, with Ambedkar earlier saying it was up to Thackeray to make the formal announcement.
Ambedkar also said the alliance is between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the VBA for the moment, but he hoped other constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party) also join.
Thackeray said he has not seen opposition from the Congress and NCP to the inclusion of VBA in the MVA.
Last month, the Jogendra Kawade-led People's Republican Party (PRP), which has a following among Dalits in the state, had joined hands with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena.
The BJP, which is a partner in Shinde's government, is allied with the Republican Party of India (A) of Ramdas Athawale, who is also a Union minister.
(With inputs from PTI)