This story is from January 20, 2019

After MIM nudge, Congress-NCP may back Prakash Ambedkar for Akola

The Congress and NCP are likely to support Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar’s candidature from Akola for the Lok Sabha elections following MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement in Nanded on
After MIM nudge, Congress-NCP may back Prakash Ambedkar for Akola
Prakash Ambedkar
MUMBAI: The Congress and NCP are likely to support Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar’s candidature from Akola for the Lok Sabha elections following MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement in Nanded on Friday that his party will not contest any of the state’s seats if Ambedkar is accommodated.
Addressing a rally organised by Ambedkar’s Wanchit Bahujan Aghadi, an organisation of oppressed people at Nanded, Owaisi had announced that if there is an “honourable settlement” for Prakash Ambedkar, the MIM will not contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections from Maharashtra.
Earlier, Ambedkar had proposed that the Wanchit Bahujan Aghadi would contest the LS elections jointly with the MIM, which was objected to by the Congress-NCP combine.
State Congress president Ashok Chavan had made it clear that the Congress-NCP front would have no alliance with Ambedkar if he joined hands with MIM. In fact, Chavan had then established contact with Ambedkar, who declined to oblige the Congress-NCP. Ambedkar had stated at that time that the Aghadi, along with MIM, would contest at least 12 seats from Maharashtra and that he himself would contest from Solapur, hometown of former CM Sushilkumar Shinde, who too will be contesting as a Congress nominee.
A senior Congress leader said in view of Owaisi’s statement, negotiations with Ambedkar will have to be started afresh, since most likeminded parties are in favour of an alliance with Ambedkar’s Aghadi in view of his group’s presence in several LS constituencies. “So far, our talks with Ambedkar were stuck as he claimed he had joined hands with Owaisi. Now that Owaisi himself has made a statement, it should not be difficult to initiate fresh talks with Ambedkar. In fact, our alliance with Ambedkar will help us secure a few more seats in the state,” he said.
The Congress leader said a decision on nominating Ambedkar from Akola will be taken at a meeting of leaders of Congress-NCP combine and likeminded parties scheduled to be held soon.
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