<p>Mumbai: In a surprising turn of events, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) founder Prakash Ambedkar floated a Third Front after discussions with Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil and distanced away from the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi. </p><p>The development comes days after Ambedkar attended the rally of I.N.D.I.A. in Mumbai which was presided over by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and a host of leaders of the opposition bloc.</p><p>Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution is lawyer by profession, and two-time Lok Sabha MP from Akola in Maharashtra and one-time Rajya Sabha MP.</p><p>Over weeks, Ambedkar held discussions with Maharashtra Congress leadership, NCP (SCP) supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray.</p><p>Ambedkar announced the first list of nine candidates. </p><p>Ambedkar, himself, will contest from Akola in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. </p><p>The candidates are: Sanjay Kewat (Bhandara-Gondiya), Hitesh Madavi (Gadchiroli-Chimur), Rajesh Belle (Chandrapur), Vasant Magar (Buldhana), Prajakta Pillewan (Amravati), Prof. Rajendra Salunke (Wardha), Khemsing Pawar (Yavatmal-Washim).</p>.VBA not to ally with MVA; Announces candidates for 1st phase Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.<p>The VBA State Committee has decided to support Vikas Thakre, the Congress candidate in Nagpur. </p><p>It has decided to support Prakash Shendage of OBC Bahujan Party from Sangli, if he contests.</p><p>Addressing a news conference in Akola, Ambedkar said that he had a detailed negotiation with Jarange-Patil a day ago in Jalna and it was decided to nominate OBC and Muslim candidates who are not being given any nominations by other major parties.</p><p>The new front will declare its full ‘inclusive’ list of Lok Sabha candidates 2 April, from the poor, marginalised, underprivileged Marathas and Muslims, who will be supported by the masses. Members of the Jain community would also be included. </p><p>Earlier in the day, Ambedkar, VBA State President Rekha Thakur, Vice-President Siddharth Mokale, Dr D Pundkar, Farooq Ahmed, Arundhati Sirsat, Ashok Sonone and others, met and held discussions.</p><p>The VBA comprises a group of Dalits, Tribals, Dhangars, Kolis, Agris, Banjaras, Malis, Kaikadis and other communities.</p><p>In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the VBA had damaged the prospects of the then Congress-NCP Democratic Front.</p>
<p>Mumbai: In a surprising turn of events, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) founder Prakash Ambedkar floated a Third Front after discussions with Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil and distanced away from the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi. </p><p>The development comes days after Ambedkar attended the rally of I.N.D.I.A. in Mumbai which was presided over by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and a host of leaders of the opposition bloc.</p><p>Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution is lawyer by profession, and two-time Lok Sabha MP from Akola in Maharashtra and one-time Rajya Sabha MP.</p><p>Over weeks, Ambedkar held discussions with Maharashtra Congress leadership, NCP (SCP) supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray.</p><p>Ambedkar announced the first list of nine candidates. </p><p>Ambedkar, himself, will contest from Akola in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. </p><p>The candidates are: Sanjay Kewat (Bhandara-Gondiya), Hitesh Madavi (Gadchiroli-Chimur), Rajesh Belle (Chandrapur), Vasant Magar (Buldhana), Prajakta Pillewan (Amravati), Prof. Rajendra Salunke (Wardha), Khemsing Pawar (Yavatmal-Washim).</p>.VBA not to ally with MVA; Announces candidates for 1st phase Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.<p>The VBA State Committee has decided to support Vikas Thakre, the Congress candidate in Nagpur. </p><p>It has decided to support Prakash Shendage of OBC Bahujan Party from Sangli, if he contests.</p><p>Addressing a news conference in Akola, Ambedkar said that he had a detailed negotiation with Jarange-Patil a day ago in Jalna and it was decided to nominate OBC and Muslim candidates who are not being given any nominations by other major parties.</p><p>The new front will declare its full ‘inclusive’ list of Lok Sabha candidates 2 April, from the poor, marginalised, underprivileged Marathas and Muslims, who will be supported by the masses. Members of the Jain community would also be included. </p><p>Earlier in the day, Ambedkar, VBA State President Rekha Thakur, Vice-President Siddharth Mokale, Dr D Pundkar, Farooq Ahmed, Arundhati Sirsat, Ashok Sonone and others, met and held discussions.</p><p>The VBA comprises a group of Dalits, Tribals, Dhangars, Kolis, Agris, Banjaras, Malis, Kaikadis and other communities.</p><p>In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the VBA had damaged the prospects of the then Congress-NCP Democratic Front.</p>