In a big setback to opposition unity efforts, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) on Friday announced candidates for 37 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
The VBA comprises the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) led by Prakash Ambedkar and the Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Asasuddin Owaisi.
Addressing the media, Ambedkar said that since there was no response from the Congress for an alliance, the VBA had decided to contest alone in Maharashtra.
"We asked 22 seats from them but till now there was no response from the Congress. We are left with no options but to go ahead and contest all the seats in Maharashtra," said Ambedkar, a grandson of B.R. Ambedkar.
--IANS
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