Prakash Ambedkar ditches MVA, announces names of 8 VBA candidates

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief, Prakash Ambedkar, on Wednesday announced that his party will go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, rejecting the offer extended by the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to contest five seats as part of the opposition coalition, and unveiled the names of eight candidates, with him fielded from Akola and one for Ramtek scheduled to be announced later in the afternoon.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar (right). (File)

At a press conference held in Akola, Ambedkar accused the MVA of seeking to utilise the VBA to safeguard their dynastic politics and dismissing Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil’s influence in the elections. He said that the VBA will join hands with Patil and the OBC Federation to form a new social alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The decision has dealt a blow to the MVA, which had engaged in negotiations with him for over a month to incorporate him into the opposition coalition, aiming to avoid a split in opposition votes.