Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 26: The Congress on Thursday said it remains hopeful of forging an alliance with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) for the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, even as sharp statements from Ambedkar added strain to the ongoing talks.

Addressing the media, Ambedkar launched a stinging attack on the Congress, claiming it lacks Hindu votes and derives electoral success largely from tribal regions. “I have not yet opened my mouth, but if I do, the Congress will face backlash not only in Maharashtra but across the country. But it helps the BJP and therefore I don’t do it,” he said.

Responding to the remarks, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the party is sincerely engaging in discussions with the VBA. “The Congress is honestly holding talks with the VBA for seat-sharing and alliance. But if statements are made that create divisions between two parties, then it is a sad thing,” Sapkal said.

A Congress delegation had met Ambedkar two days ago to explore the possibility of an alliance. However, party sources indicated that the VBA has been making what they described as unreasonable seat demands, while its leaders’ public statements have been more critical of the Congress than of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Despite this, senior Congress leaders maintained that efforts are on to arrive at a consensus.

“We were together in some nagar parishad and nagar panchayat elections. In Mumbai, the initial demand was a 50-50 seat split. How is that even possible? If an alliance is to work, demands must be reasonable,” a senior Congress leader said.

According to sources, the VBA has now made a non-negotiable demand for 43 seats in Mumbai. The Congress has conveyed that it will respond to the proposal by Friday evening.

Earlier, Sapkal clarified that the Congress would only consider alliances within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and with like-minded parties. “There is no proposal to ally with the clock (Ajit Pawar-led NCP), bow and arrow (Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena) or engine (MNS). If needed, the Congress will go solo and form alliances only with like-minded parties,” he said.