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Congress to initiate talks with Prakash Ambedkar for Maharashtra assembly poll tie-up

Congress, which was routed in the state in the recently held Lok Sabha election, hopes by bringing Ambedkar on board there will not be division in anti-BJP and most importantly in the secular votes in the coming assembly election.

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After getting a nod from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, state Congress leaders Manikrao Thakre and Harshvardhan Patil will hold a maiden meeting with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) founder Prakash Ambedkar on July 3 with a proposal for an alliance for the assembly election in the state slated for October this year. The mandate for Thakre and Patil is to convince Ambedkar to join the anti-BJP alliance in the state.

Congress, which was routed in the state in the recently held Lok Sabha election, hopes by bringing Ambedkar on board there will not be division in anti-BJP and most importantly in the secular votes in the coming assembly election. Gandhi's directive to state leaders come close on the heels of VBA winning about 41 lakh votes in the state, which is about 14% of the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha election.

VBA got more than a one lakh votes in 13 constituencies, while it crossed the 50,000-vote mark in 29 other seats. Further, VBA, which fought the general election with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), damaged Congress and NCP in at least nine seats where the latter lost to the saffron parties.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee former president Manikrao Thakre, who lost in Yavatmal to Shiv Sena nominee, told DNA, "We will hold preliminary talks with Ambedkar on Wednesday with a proposal for an alliance.

Further talks with regard to the number of seats will be discussed as per the directions from the Congress party general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge." He indicated that the Congress party together with VBA and other like-minded parties including NCP will give a strong fight against BJP-Shiv Sena combine in the coming state assembly election.

Thakre said the anti-BJP front will be in a better position to corner BJP-Sena combine on a number of state issues including drought, agrarian crisis, a surge in farmers suicides, the slow pace of growth and lack of employment generation.

Congress insiders believe Ambedkar is a hard nut to crack. During Lok Sabha poll, he had demanded 22 seats but later fought independently due to lack of understanding with Congress-NCP.

Ambedkar after the Lok Sabha poll results has said that the Congress party was already destroyed and it was because of the grand old party that VBA lost 10 seats. "We will contest separately if the Congress does not talk to us on the same level. Both of us will benefit if we come together," Ambedkar indicated.

Moreover, Ambedkar also expressed displeasure over statements made by some Congress leaders that VBA was BJP's B team in Maharashtra. He sought clarification from the Congress party and it will be huge challenge for Thakre and Patil to pacify him.

However, Patil said efforts will be made to stitch an alliance with Ambedkar.

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