VBA Announces Diverse Candidate List for Maharashtra Assembly Polls

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) announced its first list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls, including a transgender representative. VBA president Prakash Ambedkar emphasized the party's commitment to representing socially and politically excluded communities. The elections for the 288-member state assembly are expected to be held in November.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) announced its first list of 11 candidates, featuring diverse social and political backgrounds, for the Maharashtra assembly polls slated for November.

At a press conference, VBA president Prakash Ambedkar highlighted that Shamibha Patil, a transgender from the Leva Patil community, will contest from Raver in Jalgaon district. Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. B R Ambedkar, also revealed candidates from the VBA's alliance partners BharatAdivasi Party and Gondwana Gantantra Party.

Emphasizing the party's commitment to representation, Ambedkar said, 'We have given representation to the deprived, 'bahujan' groups to break the hegemony of certain caste families.' The candidate list includes individuals from socially and politically excluded communities such as the Pardhi, Dhivar, Lohar, and Waddar castes, as well as Buddhists and a Muslim representative.

(With inputs from agencies.)