Amid lingering uncertainty surrounding the allocation of seats within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra, as well as regarding the potential inclusion of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) into the alliance, VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday urged for written assurances from the MVA constituents, namely Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, affirming their commitment to refrain from forming alliances with the BJP either before or after the Lok Sabha elections.
During his meeting with the MVA leaders, which included Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, NCP's Sharad Pawar, and Congress's Balasaheb Thorat, Ambedkar pressed for these assurances as a prerequisite for their continued collaboration against the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the state.
VBA spokesperson Siddhartha Mokle, present at the meeting, conveyed Ambedkar's stance, highlighting concerns about rumored discussions between some MVA allies and the BJP. Emphasizing the VBA's staunch opposition to such duplicity, Ambedkar insisted that each coalition partner commit in writing to abstain from forging alliances with the BJP.
In addition to his demand for written commitments, Ambedkar proposed the VBA's candidacy for 17 Lok Sabha seats, with specific emphasis on securing seats in Akola, Dindori, Ramtek, Amravati, and one seat in Mumbai. However, the MVA leaders have yet to disclose the final seat-sharing arrangement.
Regarding the prospect of integrating the VBA into the alliance, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad expressed a commitment to continue negotiations until a resolution is reached. He refuted any allegations or speculations about clandestine discussions with members of the ruling alliance.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut echoed Awhad's sentiment, characterizing the discussions as productive and expressing optimism about reaching a consensus on seat distribution soon.
According to insider reports, the MVA partners have tentatively agreed to allot 21 seats to Shiv Sena, 15 seats to Congress, and 9 seats to Sharad Pawar's NCP.
Assuring Prakash Ambedkar of their deliberation on his proposal, the MVA leaders committed to reconvene on March 9 for further discussions to finalize the seat distribution within the alliance.
