Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar has launched a sharp political offensive after Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar appeared on the same side in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic elections, calling it proof that the two leaders are “politically inseparable” despite their public split.
Speaking at a public meeting in Solapur, Ambedkar said the recent developments have exposed what he described as a “well-scripted drama” being played in Maharashtra politics. According to him, the Pawar factions are not truly rivals but are instead using their apparent rivalry to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) guessing.
“One of them joined the BJP when investigations were closing in and got relief. Now, when pressure is being applied again, they remind each other about files worth ₹70,000 crore. We are asking the BJP why these files were quietly kept pending for so long,” Ambedkar said, demanding clarity from the ruling party.
He went on to accuse the BJP of abandoning ideology for power, pointing to what he called a series of politically contradictory alliances across the state. He cited the BJP’s tie-up with AIMIM in Akot and the Congress joining hands with the BJP in Ambernath as examples of how parties have set aside principles for political and financial gains. “Today, ideology doesn’t matter. What matters are tenders and the benefits of being in power,” he said.
Ambedkar also suggested that the BJP’s long-term strategy is to weaken both the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. He noted that while alliances have been forged in some places, the BJP has stayed away from partnerships in politically crucial cities like Pune and Thane, which, according to him, indicates an attempt to marginalise its own allies and reduce the space for the opposition.
Defending the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s alliance with the Congress in Mumbai, Ambedkar said both parties share a secular outlook, making their partnership natural. He also mocked BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis over his warning of action in Akot, saying no steps had been taken even after 24 hours.
Turning to the broader political climate, Ambedkar warned voters against what he called the rise of “immoral governance”. He accused those in power of using money and unethical means to retain control, urging citizens to reject such politics if they want real solutions to civic issues. In Solapur, he said, problems related to transport and infrastructure continue to pile up because there is no genuine planning by those in authority.
Commenting on reports that Congress leader Praniti Shinde may be moving towards the BJP, Ambedkar said such shifts only reveal where loyalties truly lie. “Soon people will see who is really committed and who has BJP in their bloodstream,” he remarked.
Ambedkar also made serious allegations about coercion in the ongoing local body elections in Solapur. He claimed that pressure tactics, intimidation and even physical assault were being used to force candidates to withdraw so that some could be elected unopposed. “Maharashtra is being pushed towards the kind of politics we associate with Bihar. Many of our candidates were too scared even to submit their nomination forms,” he alleged.
With municipal elections underway, Ambedkar said voters must remain alert to what he called “unholy political deals” and choose leaders who stand for transparency and democratic values rather than power at any cost.
