Congress and Nationalist Congress Party are engaged in talks to forge pre-poll alliance
Efforts to form anti BJP front in Maharashtra ahead of ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly elections slated for 2019 received a shot in the arm after prominent dalit leader and founder of Bharip Bahujan Maha Sangh (BBMS) Prakah Ambedkar hinted to be part of the alliance. Currently, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party are engaged in talks to forge pre-poll alliance and simultaneously they have decided to reach out to the like-minded secular parties to form mahagathbandhan in the state against BJP.
Ambedkar, who has been firing salvo against BJP led government in the state for its handling of the Bhima Koregaon riot, today revealed that he was trying to forge a front of forward looking parties under the banner 'Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi' and is open for talks with the Congress and the NCP. In 2009, Ambedkar had floated idea of Republican Left Democratic Front (RiDaLoS) to raise a similar front but that had failed to attract voters.
According to the 2011 census, Dalits constitute 10.5 per cent of the population in the state ; five of the 48 Lok Sabha seats from the state are reserved. Currently, out of the 288 assembly constituencies, 29 constituencies are reserved for the candidates belonging to the scheduled castes and 25 are reserved for scheduled tribes candidates.
Leader of opposition in the state assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (Congress) told DNA, "Congress and NCP have already hinted at forgning a pre-poll alliance to defeat BJP. The central leadership of both the parties will take a final call in this regard. If Ambedkar wants to join anti BJP front he is welcome."
NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said his party wants to make a broader alliance to defeat communal forces in Maharashtra as well as across the country. "In this regard, Ambedkar's call is welcome and the party will hold alliance talks with him in due course of time. Representation will given to members of scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, other backward classes and minorities in the proposed anti BJP front," he said.
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