The OBC Bahujan Party, led by Prakash Shendge, has officially allied with the Congress in Maharashtra. This partnership, announced by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal, aims to jointly contest the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Scheduled for February 5, the elections will see 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis in the fray, with results on February 7.
Addressing the media, Sapkal emphasized that this alliance goes beyond power-sharing, focusing on a shared vision for social justice. He highlighted the Congress’s support for a caste census, championing the principle of ‘representation proportional to population’. Criticizing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sapkal accused him of reneging on promises, including the unfulfilled commitment to approve Dhangar reservation with his first signature in 2014.
Prakash Shendge, the OBC Bahujan Party leader, raised concerns about the precarious state of reservations, particularly the 27% OBC quota. He criticized the government for issuing numerous resolutions without tangible benefits for any community. Shendge affirmed the party’s commitment to fighting for OBC rights and praised Rahul Gandhi’s stance on the caste census, expressing optimism for resolving OBC reservation issues under his leadership.
The alliance between the Congress and the OBC Bahujan Party follows the Congress’s previous collaboration with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi in the BMC elections, where the Congress secured 24 seats. Additionally, Sapkal honored the newly elected 30 corporators of the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation on Monday.
