27 March,2024 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Raut/ ANI screengrab
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated on Wednesday that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had extended its willingness to engage in discussions with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) until the last minute and remains open to further dialogue despite Ambedkar's decision not to align with the opposition in Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Maharashtra, reported PTI.
Reportedly, Raut told reporters that the Sena (UBT) had promised the VBA five seats, including Akola, and that he believed negotiations with Ambedkar's party could continue.
"We waited for the VBA till the last moment and are still waiting. We had offered the VBA five seats including Akola. We still are of the opinion that talks can be held with him. This can go beyond five," Raut was quoted as saying.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has released its preliminary list of 17 candidates for the forthcoming Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections, with plans to contest a total of 22 seats in the state.
Meanwhile, Prakash Ambedkar, Dr BR Ambedkar's grandson, released the identities of eight election candidates, including himself for the Akola constituency. During a press conference, he accused MVA friends of attempting to exploit his party to promote dynastic politics.
Earlier, Raut acknowledged ongoing conversations with the VBA, emphasising the MVA's resolve to win all five VBA-contested seats, PTI reported.
Despite Ambedkar's decision to break the coalition with Shiv Sena UBT and rejecting their four-seat proposal for Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Raut expressed hope for collaboration to protect the Constitution. "In these trying times, to save the Constitution, he (Prakash Ambedkar) should ally with the opposition," Raut said.
According to the report, Ambedkar's decision to end the partnership was made public on March 23, and he claimed that the MVA had only promised his party three seats.
Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, will hold polling in five phases beginning April 19.
Fissures in MVA
Following the release of Sena (UBT)'s Lok Sabha Elections 2024 candidate list, Congress has expressed disappointment and said that the party should not have released names for those seats including Sangli and Mumbai which are under discussion. They have criticised Sena UBT's unilateral approach while NCP led by Sharad Pawar is yet to comment on the fiasco.
