Mumbai: According to sources, Maharashtra Congress has reached out to Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar to join the grand alliance in the state. Mr Ambedkar has already declared his alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittahadul Muslimeen  (AIMIM) with whom a meeting is likely to take place this week. This is a part of the Congress’ strategy to reach out to all like-minded parties in Maharashtra.

Mr Ambedkar has declared an alliance with Mr Owaisi. Both leaders will share the stage in Aurangabad on October 2 to kick-start their campaign. It is being said that Mr Ambedkar, as leader of the Dalit community, and Mr Owaisi could pose a threat to the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance in electoral politics. The call to Mr Ambedkar was done on this backdrop.    

Highly-placed sources from the Congress informed The Asian Age that now Congress has dialled Mr Ambedkar for the alliance talks. Mr Ambedkar too has not rejected the offer but haven’t replied the Congress leadership anything. It is being said that the meeting between Congress leadership and Mr Ambedkar would take place by this week itself.

“We will request Mr Ambedkar to join hands with us to avoid all possible division of votes against fascist forces,” the Congress state chief Ashok Chavan had said in Aurangabad on Saturday. The Congress  is already in talks with smaller parties for forming a grand alliance in Maharashtra to take on mighty BJP.