Grassroots Mobilisation for Local Elections
The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) is setting its sights on deepening its presence across the state, with a specific focus on consolidating support at the district and taluk levels. This strategic move involves forming new committees to directly engage with marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The party articulated this plan on Tuesday, framing it as essential groundwork ahead of forthcoming zilla and taluk panchayat elections. A stated aim of these committees is to maintain a consistent connection with these voter blocs.
Ballot Box Preference for Transparency
In a related development, the VBA has voiced support for the State Election Commission's consideration of using ballot papers over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for upcoming panchayat polls. The party’s state working president, Sushim Sakpal, characterized this potential shift as a "positive step toward transparency."
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Alliances and Electoral Realities
The VBA's expansionist ambitions occur against a backdrop of evolving electoral partnerships. Notably, the party has previously engaged in alliances for significant contests. In December 2025, the Congress and VBA formalized a pact for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections. Under this agreement, the VBA was allocated 62 seats out of the total 227. Discussions on seat distribution within such alliances, according to VBA's state vice-president Siddharth Mokale, are "never satisfactory but has to stop somewhere."
Broader Opposition Coalitions
The VBA's participation in larger opposition blocs has also been a feature of its political trajectory. In February 2024, the party was announced as part of a three-party opposition alliance in Maharashtra, alongside the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA). This MVA itself is a component of the wider INDIA bloc. However, Prakash Ambedkar, the VBA president, indicated at the time that his party was not yet formally part of the MVA, pending direct talks with the national leadership of the Congress. The stated motivation behind some of these alliances, such as the one with Congress for the Mumbai polls, has been to counter the "divisive and destructive politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party."
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Shifting Political Stance
Following a perceived lackluster performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the VBA announced a statewide 'Arakshan Bachao (Save Reservation)' rally in July 2024. This initiative, led by Prakash Ambedkar, marked what has been described as a subtle shift in the party's political focus. The rallies aimed to reinforce and advocate for existing reservation percentages for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, ensuring they remain "intact and undiluted." The current reservation structure in Maharashtra is noted as 62 percent, comprising various categories including SCs, STs, OBCs, and Economically Weaker Sections.
Local Influence
In certain regions, such as Akola district, the VBA has been identified as a significant political force, acting as a 'third factor' capable of influencing electoral outcomes. While established parties might hold sway elsewhere in Vidarbha, Akola is characterized by the VBA's strong cadre base, positioning it as a key contender capable of swaying results.
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