Kolhapur: Strategy confusion prevails in Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi

KOLHAPUR: The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi ( VBA ) appears to be mired in confusion over its strategy for the assembly elections in Kolhapur.


Earlier this week, VBA had extended support to Samarjit Ghatge, who is contesting as an independent from Kagal, only to later withdraw it. Local VBA leaders claimed the decision was taken in haste and that they were rethinking it.

In some other seats, there is a lack of clarity over the party’s direction, with some leaders supporting candidates of other parties even with official VBA candidates in the fray.

Party leaders said their ship needs to be righted, and soon. “VBA had already extended support to local leaders before announcing the nominations,” one party leader, requesting anonymity, said.

“For instance, support was extended to Prakash Awade from Ichalkaranji and Ghatge from Kagal. However, VBA’s candidate is now contesting against Awade, while we withdrew support to Ghatge. Our strategy is in disarray and we need to rethink supporting other candidates, as our official candidates are unhappy,” the leader added.

Party leaders, meanwhile, are unhappy with nominations by VBA and their allies. From Chandgad, Vinayak Patil, a former Zilla Parishad member of the NCP, was given the ticket.

VBA nominated Jeevan Patil, a former Congress leader, from Radhanagari. “Offering tickets to defectors will not go down well with our core voters, who are from the backward and minority communities,” a local VBA leader said.

“Tickets were given not to ‘vanchit’ candidates (those from the socially oppressed sections), but to those from the ‘upper’ social strata,” another leader said.