Ambedkar jr says Aghadi will win over 10 LS seats
Ramu Bhagwat | TNN | Feb 8, 2019, 03:53 IST
Anandraj Ambedkar (right) adressed the media at Ravi Bhavan on ThursdayNagpur: Anandraj Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar and younger brother of Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi (BVA) leader Prakash Ambedkar is confident that the Aghadi would do very well in the coming Lok Sabha elections notching a win in double digits.
An engineer, Anandraj heads his own outfit called Republican Sena, which was at the forefront of the agitation to demand Indu Mills land for the proposed Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai. The brothers seem to have patched up and are now together in the Aghadi.
Anandraj was in city for 120th birth anniversary of Ramabai Ambedkar, first wife of Babasaheb. Talking to reporters, he said after a long time all followers of the Ambedkar movement had come together to rally behind Ambedkar family with the formation of Aghadi. This can be gauged from the 2-lakh-plus attendance at every rally that Prakash Ambedkar has addressed in last two months, claimed Anandraj. “This consolidation of Dalits and other deprived classes would translate into our winning at least 10 seats,” he added.
Asked if the Aghadi has closed doors on the Congress-NCP over alliance, he said we expected a ‘respectful’ treatment and if an honourable offer was made the Aghadi would accept it. “We have asked for 12 seats, selecting only those from where the Congress has never won. We cannot settle for anything less,” said Anandraj.
“In 1957, all Ambedkarites were together and backed the Republican Party of India, which won five Lok Sabha seats that year. Similarly in 1998, when all RPI factions joined hands, we won four seats. Now, the situation is more favourable as public anger against the BJP is at its peak. Dalits are being targeted for as petty reasons as growing moustache, riding a horse or skinning a dead cow. They are sure to retaliate,” said Anandraj.
An engineer, Anandraj heads his own outfit called Republican Sena, which was at the forefront of the agitation to demand Indu Mills land for the proposed Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai. The brothers seem to have patched up and are now together in the Aghadi.
Anandraj was in city for 120th birth anniversary of Ramabai Ambedkar, first wife of Babasaheb. Talking to reporters, he said after a long time all followers of the Ambedkar movement had come together to rally behind Ambedkar family with the formation of Aghadi. This can be gauged from the 2-lakh-plus attendance at every rally that Prakash Ambedkar has addressed in last two months, claimed Anandraj. “This consolidation of Dalits and other deprived classes would translate into our winning at least 10 seats,” he added.
Asked if the Aghadi has closed doors on the Congress-NCP over alliance, he said we expected a ‘respectful’ treatment and if an honourable offer was made the Aghadi would accept it. “We have asked for 12 seats, selecting only those from where the Congress has never won. We cannot settle for anything less,” said Anandraj.
“In 1957, all Ambedkarites were together and backed the Republican Party of India, which won five Lok Sabha seats that year. Similarly in 1998, when all RPI factions joined hands, we won four seats. Now, the situation is more favourable as public anger against the BJP is at its peak. Dalits are being targeted for as petty reasons as growing moustache, riding a horse or skinning a dead cow. They are sure to retaliate,” said Anandraj.
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