In a significant development for the Nagpur civic polls, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) made a high-profile entry into the North Nagpur contest on Wednesday. The party's chief, Prakash Ambedkar, launched a campaign rally, setting off political speculation about his potential to sway voters in a key constituency.
A Crowded Electoral Arena in North Nagpur
North Nagpur is a unique assembly segment in the city, being the only one where both the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) hold considerable influence. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aggressively campaigning to expand its reach here. The entry of the VBA has made the battle for Dalit votes particularly intense.
The Congress is relying on its senior leader and MLA, Nitin Raut, to lead its charge for the 28 seats. Raut is deploying his decades of political experience to navigate internal party dynamics and secure a win. The BSP, which had all its corporators from this area in the previous municipal house, is aiming to double its tally to around 20 seats.
BJP's Push and VBA's Potential Impact
Riding on the momentum of the "double-engine" government narrative, the BJP has mounted an aggressive campaign to better its 2017 performance of 11 corporators from the area. In this crowded landscape, VBA's entry is seen as a pivotal move. Political observers note that Ambedkar's direct engagement with voters at rallies could lead to gains for both his party and the BJP.
A local Congress member from North Nagpur commented, "In closely contested wards, BJP may clinch the top spot, while VBA could also open its account in some pockets." This suggests a possible fragmentation of votes that could redefine the outcome.
Ambedkar's Sharp Critique of BJP Alliances
During his campaign, Prakash Ambedkar launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP. He criticized the party for its selective alliance strategy with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction in some municipal corporations while breaking ties elsewhere.
He alleged this approach was designed to systematically weaken or eliminate other political parties. Ambedkar claimed the ruling side used pressure tactics and blackmail during negotiations, challenging the very existence of political alternatives. He linked this to the BJP and RSS's broader political strategy.
Ambedkar also dismissed a remark by the BJP state president about "erasing" the memory of former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, calling it "foolish" and asserting that no one can erase another's legacy.
The high-voltage entry of the VBA has undoubtedly added a new dimension to the Nagpur civic elections, making North Nagpur a constituency to watch as the battle for the Dalit vote bank intensifies.
