Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar announced first list of nine candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Wednesday signalling that the outfit will not contest the polls in alliance with Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. Ambedkar, the grandson of BR Ambedkar, announced the list of candidates which includes himself from Akola constituency.
Addressing a press conference in Maharashtra's Akola, he accused the MVA allies, Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and Shiv Sena (UBT) of trying to use VBA to promote dynastic politics.
"They (the MVA parties) were trying to use VBA for promoting dynastic politics which we have tried to resist," he said.
He also alleged that the MVA was not considering the factor of Maratha activist Manoj Jarange and said that Jarange has announced support to VBA candidates in the first phase.
The VBA chief also said that party's state committee had a discussion that it would field candidates from OBC, Muslim, Jain communities and poor sections of the society.
ALSO READ: Where Is The Money In Excise Policy 'Scam'? Arvind Kejriwal To Reveal Details Tomorrow, Says Wife
Apart from Ambedkar, Sanjay Kevat will contest the polls from Bhandara Gondia, Hitesh Madavi from Gadchiroli, Rajesh Bele, Vasant Magar from Buldhana, Prakajkta Pillewar, Rajendra Salunkhe from Wardha, Khemsingh Pawar from Yavatmal-Washim.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, "It appears that you (Prakash Ambedkar) deliberately kept us entangled. We will go to the Dalit community and tell them about the injustice you have done."
The development comes a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the MVA has has not lost hope in VBA chief despite Ambedkar calling off the tie-up. Raut claimed public support is with MVA whose electoral victory would have been grand had VBA come along.
On Tuesday, Raut said that the outfit was still a part of MVA and discussions with Ambedkar were still going on