Mumbai : In a press conference held in Mumbai, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar issued a warning, emphasizing the peril faced by the parliamentary system in India. Ambedkar, grandson of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, urged all those opposing the Bharatiya Janata Party-RSS to unite and safeguard democracy in the country.
During the media address following the VBA Core Committee meeting on strategies for the 2024 elections, Ambedkar highlighted the significance of parliamentary democracy, emphasizing its empowerment of the common masses and provision of equal representation to individuals from all walks of life. He stressed that the survival of parliamentary democracy is vital for the existence of political parties and the preservation of people’s power.
Expressing concerns about the potential shift to a presidential system, Ambedkar warned against concentrating power in the hands of a limited few from the upper castes. To prevent this scenario, he called for unity among parties capable of challenging the BJP-RSS, urging them to collaborate in the upcoming 2024 elections for the protection of parliamentary democracy.
Ambedkar also touched upon the alliance with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Shiv Sena-UBT, headed by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Despite the purported delays in seat-sharing discussions within the MVA, Ambedkar clarified that the VBA cannot engage in seat distribution talks with Shiv Sena-UBT unless initiated by them. He asserted that the decision on seat-sharing now rests with Shiv Sena-UBT, warning that if a resolution is not reached soon, VBA will independently contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
