Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and founder of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), suggested to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra should be equally divided among the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) and VBA.
In a letter to Kharge, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray, Ambedkar has put forth the formula of contesting 12 Lok Sabha seats each. This, he wrote, will ensure that there is no confusion among the opposition allies and will be a major step in ousting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP from power.
Ambedkar and his VBA are not yet the constituents of INDIA alliance and MVA in Maharashtra. However, Thackeray and his Shiv Sena were the first to enter into an alliance with Ambedkar's VBA. Thackeray is of the opinion that VBA should be made a constituent of INDIA alliance.
Pawar too recently told Kharge that Ambedkar should be included in INDIA alliance as it will strengthen opposition unity in the state. State congress leaders have not taken any stand on the issue so far.
A meeting of the state executive of VBA was recently held at Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). At this meeting, a resolution was passed saying all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra should be divided equally between VBA and three other MVA constituents (Congress, Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT).
Ambedkar said dividing the seats equally is the most practical way to avoid any differences over seat sharing. This will avoid bickering and efforts to cut each other down, he felt.
Considering Maharashtra sends the second largest contingent of MPs to Lok Sabha, it is necessary to decide seat-sharing formula at the earliest.