Cong welcomes Pawar meeting Ambedkar, says Ashok Chavan

MUMBAI: Former chief minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress on Saturday welcomed the meeting between NCP president Sharad Pawar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar at an event in Mumbai.
“We welcome the meeting between Sharad Pawar and Prakash Ambedkar.
It will help strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi. In our view, we feel that VBA and MVA should contest the ensuing elections together.They met over a cup of coffee, it is a welcome change, it will help us initiate a dialogue,” Chavan said.
Chavan’s statement assumes significant political importance, since so far, MPCC president Nana Patole had taken the view that since there is no proposal from Prakash Ambedkar, there is no question of VBA’s admission in INDIA. Ambedkar had recently met UBT president Uddhav Thackeray for an alliance for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. VBA has considerable presence in several Lok Sabha constituencies, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Y B Chavan center had organised an event to mark 100 years of Dr Ambedkar’s thesis ‘Problems of Rupee’, where Sharad Pawar spoke at length on Ambedkar’s literature on economy. Prakash Ambedkar was also present at the meeting.
After the meeting, NCP working president Supriya Sule took alead in organising a meeting between Sharad Pawar and Prakash Ambedkar. “We were 12 people during the meeting with Sharad Pawar, there was no discussion on INDIA or MVA. I do not think that there will be deliberations on INDIA till the elections to five states,” said Ambedkar and indicated that there is no move to join hands with BJP.
Incidentally, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed former CM Ashok Chavan AICC observer for the ensuing assembly elections in Telangana.