Maharashtra polls will see a shift from ‘save Constitution’ to ‘save reservation’: Prakash Ambedkar

Prakash Ambedkar: We person decided to contention the elections without immoderate alliance. We volition tract maximum candidates crossed the 288 constituencies. Our absorption volition beryllium connected Dalits, OBCs, tribals, Muslims, and each oppressed segments crossed the state. It is existent our show successful the Lok Sabha polls was beneath our expectations; we polled conscionable 2.7 per cent of the full votes compared with 6.92 per cent 5 years ago. We are assured we volition amended our show successful the state, which is heading for multi-party contests.

Q: Which volition beryllium the main plank successful authorities polls?

Prakash Ambedkar: The authorities elections volition beryllium fought connected a preservation plank. Broadly, determination volition beryllium polarisation betwixt Marathas and OBCs. Unlike successful the past, the OBCs volition go much assertive successful countering the Marathas’ request for preservation wrong the OBC category. Along with that, we person reasons to judge that Dalits and tribals volition besides play a decisive relation successful determining the electoral result of the Assembly polls.

Q: Are you suggesting the “threat” to the Constitution remains an contented successful authorities polls too?

Prakash Ambedkar: From “save Constitution”, determination volition beryllium a important displacement towards “save reservation”. The connection has reached the grassroots among the SC/STs. In the Lok Sabha elections, it was “save Constitution”. Now, the contented that is powerfully emerging is based connected the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing sub-classification of the Scheduled Castes owed to inadequate practice of definite castes oregon communities. The verdict has antagonised the Dalits, who comprehend this arsenic being portion of a hidden docket of the Government and established mainstream governmental parties to extremity reservation.

Q: Why should anybody entity to a verdict that calls for the uplift of the astir backward wrong the backwards?

Prakash Ambedkar: Firstly, the Supreme Court has nary close to determine connected this issue, which falls nether the law jurisdiction. Secondly, who volition find the merit? Are determination immoderate parameters to found erstwhile a definite assemblage availing of SC preservation has achieved the stated nonsubjective of the reservation? If you region definite communities from preservation citing the creamy layer, what happens to the quota successful the lack of suitable candidates? Initially, the Matang assemblage hailed the SC verdict, but adjacent they are opposing it now.

Q: What are your views connected the Chief Justice of India’s determination to make a caller Lady Justice?

Prakash Ambedkar: It’s a bully decision. The connection that comes done is that everything volition beryllium done successful accordance with law rules. Both unfolding the unsighted and replacing the sword with the Constitution are successful keeping with modern times. This seems to beryllium a CJI inaugural with conviction. I consciousness it has thing to bash with politics.

Q: Do you spot a replay of the Muslim consolidation successful favour of the Maha Vikas Aghadi?

Prakash Ambedkar: The Muslims volition decidedly not align with the right-wing BJP. What volition beryllium absorbing to enactment is that, dissimilar successful the Lok Sabha polls, wherever Muslims wholeheartedly supported the Shiv Sena (UBT), determination volition beryllium a paradigm shift. From what I person travel to know, Muslim organisations are seeking an undertaking from the Uddhav Thackeray-led enactment that it volition stay wrong the MVA aft the polls. There is suspicion successful immoderate quarters regarding post-poll permutations and combinations.

Q: What are your views connected the Mahayuti government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana?

Prakash Ambedkar: It volition person a constricted impact. When it was launched, it had a immense appeal. However, different issues arose, specified arsenic the illness of the Shivaji Maharaj statue successful Sindhudurg (Konkan), which struck a chord among the masses. The wounded sentiments of radical regarding the Shivaji statue volition person immoderate interaction successful the polls.