Ambedkar accuses Chavan of defaming him, party

Mumbai: Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar on Saturday alleged that Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan was defaming him and his party over an electoral alliance. Mr Ambedkar said that talks of an alliance with Congress had not moved beyond exchanging pleasantries. He also said that his party’s alliance with the All India Majlis-i-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is ready to contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Mr Ambedkar addressed an urgent press conference after Mr Chavan made a comment about him regarding an alliance between the Congress and the BBM. Mr Chavan said that the Congress wants an alliance with Mr Ambedkar but the latter’s response is confusing. “This is lie. I don’t know why Mr Chavan is misleading people. We are ready for an alliance. We have also submitted our seat-sharing proposal. But the Congress has not said anything about it. We are waiting for their reply,” he said.

On being asked about his meetings with Congress leaders over seat sharing, Mr Ambedkar said, “We just have biscuits and tea. We discuss the overall need of an alliance. But no proper seat-wise discussion has taken place till now.”

Mr Ambedkar met Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Manikrao Thakare over an alliance a month back. He had then asked the Congress to break its alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and had also demanded 12 of the 48 LS seats in state.

The Bharip leader also said that he is waiting for December 11, as election results from five states will be announced on the date. “The Congress may move for alliance talks on a serious note after it,” said Mr Ambedkar.