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Congress & VBA Forge Mumbai Alliance: 62 Seats for Ambedkar's Party in BMC Polls

The Congress party and Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi have announced an electoral alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, with the VBA set to contest 62 seats. The alliance, formalized on the Congress's Foundation Day, is described by leaders as a natural union based on shared constitutional values of equality and social justice. This marks a renewal of their political partnership after 25 years, with the stated aim of countering the BJP. While the Mumbai deal is sealed, alliances for 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra will be decided by local leadership from both parties.

Key Points: Congress-VBA Alliance for BMC Polls: 62 Seats to VBA

  • VBA to contest 62 BMC seats
  • Alliance called a "natural" ideological match
  • Aimed at stopping the "divisive BJP"
  • Local leaders to decide on other 28 civic bodies
2 min read

Congress-VBA alliance: Prakash Ambedkar's party to contest 62 seats in BMC polls

Congress & Prakash Ambedkar's VBA form alliance for Mumbai civic polls. VBA to contest 62 seats. A "meeting of ideologies" to counter BJP.

"This is not a game of numbers, but a meeting of ideologies. - Harshvardhan Sapkal, Maharashtra Congress President"

Mumbai, December 28

The Congress and the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi on Sunday decided to join hands for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

In Mumbai, the VBA will contest 62 seats.

Regarding alliances in the other 28 municipal corporations across the state, positive decisions will be taken at the local level, for which both parties have granted authority to their local leadership.

The decision to form an alliance was taken on the Congress party's Foundation Day, which holds special significance. The alliance was formally announced at the Congress headquarters, Tilak Bhavan, by Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal and VBA's State Vice President Dhairyavardhan Pundkar.

At the press conference held at Tilak Bhavan, those present included Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal; All India Congress Committee Secretary and Mumbai Congress Chief Spokesperson Sachin Sawant; State Vice President and Chief Spokesperson Siddharth Mokale; Vanchit's Mumbai President Chetan Ahire; Mumbai Women's Alliance President Snehal Sohani; and Mumbai Youth Alliance President Sagar Gawai.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the alliance between the Congress and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi is a natural one. Both parties share the same ideological position and are committed to constitutional values and to building an India envisioned by the Constitution.

They stand for equality, fraternity, and social justice, and neither party compromises on constitutional principles. The two parties had allied in the 1998 and 1999 elections, and now, after 25 years, they have come together again. The process took some time, but from today a new chapter has begun. "This is not a game of numbers, but a meeting of ideologies," Sapkal said.

Vanchit's State Vice President Dhairyavardhan Pundkar said that the two parties have come together to stop the divisive BJP.

He added that Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal took the first step towards the alliance and maintained a positive approach from the beginning. Pundkar reiterated that the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi will contest 62 seats in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Vanchit's State Vice President Siddharth Mokale said that seat-sharing discussions in alliances are never entirely satisfactory, but a point must be reached. He noted that positive discussions took place from both sides.

While the alliance for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has been announced today, decisions for other municipal corporations will be taken positively by the local leadership of both parties, Mokale said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
"Not a game of numbers, but a meeting of ideologies" – I appreciate Sapkal ji saying this. In today's politics, such statements are rare. But the real test is on the ground. Will their workers cooperate, or will there be internal sabotage? BMC needs a stable administration, not political experiments.
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Aman W
Good move. The arithmetic makes sense to avoid splitting the anti-BJP vote. VBA has a strong base in certain pockets. But 62 seats for VBA seems like a lot? Hope Congress hasn't given away too much just for the sake of an alliance. Local leadership will be key in other corporations.
P
Priyanka N
As a Mumbaikar, my only request to all parties: please focus on actual civic issues. Our roads, water supply, and waste management are in a pathetic state. We need representatives who will work, not just engage in political symbolism. I welcome any alliance that prioritizes development.
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David E
Interesting development. Observing from outside, it seems like a pragmatic coalition against a common opponent. The success will depend on how well they manage the seat-sharing at the local level in the other 28 corporations. Coordination is often the hardest part.
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Varun X
After 25 years they come together again! History repeating itself. But the political landscape has changed completely since 1999. The BJP is much stronger now. This alliance needs a very strong, united grassroots campaign. Just sharing seats is not enough.

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