Mumbai: constituency, Janata Dal (Secular) candidate B.G. Kolse-Patil accused Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) of helping Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The AIMIM in state has tied up with Prakash Ambedkar to float the VBA, which will contest all the 48 seats in state. Mr Ambedkar had earlier announced that former high court judge Mr Kolse-Patil would be nominated from the Aurangabad seat.

However, when AIMIM’s local MLA Imtiaz Jaleel expressed his intentions to contest from the Aurangabad seat, Mr Ambedkar announced withdrawal of his claim and said it was now up to AIMIM to announce a candidate.

Mr Kolse-Patil has declined the VBA support. He also accused the front of helping the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by not allying with the Congress.

“Right now, only the Congress can stop the communal BJP. I tried hard to facilitate the alliance between the Congress and the VBA. But, Mr Ambedkar has ended the negotiations by announcing all candidates for the LS polls,” said Mr Kolse-Patil.