To form an anti-BJP front in Maharashtra, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party leaders have initiated talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party ahead of the LS polls. State party units hinted that their respective high commands will soon take a final decision in this regard. Both the NCP and Congress intend to consolidate the Dalit and Muslim votes with this move.
This development comes close on the heels of prominent Dalit leader and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar's move to join hands with All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM). However, Congress and NCP have not yet lost hope. They have sent feelers to Ambedkar to join the anti-BJP front. Both have clarified that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and MIM won't be part of the proposed front.
Both the parties are engaged in negotiations with Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (M), Peasants and Workers Party, BJP's former ally Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana ( SSS) and Republican Party of India factions led by Jogendra Kawade and Rajendra Gavai. Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, Congress and NCP have indicated that they are prepared to take a hit to accommodate like-minded and secular parties against BJP.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan told DNA, ''It is an attempt to jointly take on BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Congress has been a strong advocate of a pre-poll alliance among the like-minded and secular parties against communal and divisive forces in Maharashtra.'' He informed that Congress party's central leadership will pursue alliance talks with BSP.
Chavan said that Congress and NCP will reach out to SP legislator Abu Azmi to join the front. Azmi was not reachable when contacted on the same. State NCP chief Jayant Patil said that Congress and his party hope to bring Ambedkar on board. ''We will keep on persuading him,'' he said.
Patil added that the Congress and NCP are prepared to give due representation to like-minded parties by leaving some seats from their respective quotas. It will be done after proper assessment of strengths and weaknesses of individual parties,'' Patil added.
SSS founder Raju Shetty, who left BJP led NDA, said his party will join the Mahagathbandhan on certain conditions. "After being voted to power, the UPA should move government bills on complete loan waiver and minimum support price (MSP) should be fixed at no less than one and half time the real cost of production. Seat allocation can be decided in due course after negotiations,'' he said.
POLITICAL MOVES
- MNS and MIM won’t be part of the proposed anti-BJP front in Maharashtra
- Of the 48 LS seats, Congress and NCP are willing to give some to like-minded parties to defeat the BJP in 2019 polls
- Congress is keen on forming pre-poll alliances with secular parties to fight communal and divisive forces
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