AIMIM snaps ties with VBA, blames Ambedkar, to contest 70 seats
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, September 6, 2019 : A year after their alliance, the Hyderabad-based Owaisi brothers led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) of Prakash Ambedkar broke their ties.
State AIMIM president Imtiaz Jaleel said, “AIMIM informs that after prolong discussions lasting for near two months with Mr Balasaheb Ambedkarji, president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, we could not reach at a comfortable and respectable figure of seat distribution between both the parties. VBA conveyed that they could allot only eight seats out of the 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra assembly to AIMIM as alliance partner. This is simply unacceptable and unjustified as the list does not include the sitting seat of AIMIM in Aurangabad central. Our party leader Dr Gaffar Qadri also had series of meetings with Mr Balasaheb, the last one on Sept 5 in Pune, and he too has been communicated by Mr Balasaheb and his Parliamentary board member Mr Annarao Patil about the decision. Mr Balasaheb has sent an email to Mr Owaisi that he would give 8 seats to the AIMIM.”
He further added, “AIMIM had contested 24 seats in 2014 in the Maharashtra assembly elections. We had won two MLAs from Aurangabad and Byculla respectively and we were second and third position on nine seats. Today the party has about 150 corporators and councillors across Maharashtra from different castes and communities.”
The MP from Aurangabad stated, “In Aurangabad Municipal Corporation where we have 26 corporators, our leader of opposition and the group leader in AMC are both from the SC category namely Mr Sarita Arun Borde and Mr Gangadhar Dhage. We respect and honour Mr Balasaheb Ambedkarji and will continue to do so. We wish him and the VBA good luck. Irrespective of our alliance not taking place we are committed and will continue to take up the issues of the oppressed classes from the weaker sections of the society. AIMIM would be releasing its schedule of interviews of prospective candidates which would be conducted in Aurangabad.”
