NAGPUR: Former Maharashtra cabinet minister Anees Ahmed joined the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) on Monday, a day after snapping his four decade-old association with the party and launched a frontal attack on Congress.
In an exclusive interview to TOI, the three-time MLA said Muslims and Dalits who powered Congress to victory in Lok Sabha polls feel betrayed by the botched ticket distribution and the Haryana verdict will repeat in Maharashtra. Excerpts:
You are a Gandhi loyalist and told TOI that you will never quit Congress, but 48 hours later, you switched to VBA. Why?
Muslims, Dalits, Telis, fishermen, and Hindi-speaking population were meted out injustice by Congress. Rahul Gandhi insisted on representation as per population, but the state Congress brass ignored his instructions, and refused to follow the social-engineering norm in ticket distribution. I blame the Maharashtra Congress leadership for this bias. I am contesting in protest.
Did Congress promise to field Muslims in Vidarbha?
Muslims voted en bloc for Congress in Lok Sabha polls, despite the party not fielding a single candidate from the community in Maharashtra. The same story is being repeated during assembly polls in Vidarbha. The Teli and Hindi-speaking population too have been let down. Earlier, Congress would allot tickets through social engineering. What we have today is a Kunbi Congress. Nagpur city president is a Kunbi, and the community is dominating 90% seat share.
Have Muslims woken up to the betrayal by Congress?
Muslims are disillusioned and angry with Congress in entire Maharashtra. The community which powered Congress victories in successive elections has been cheated for the last 10-15 years. There was a time when Ghulam Nabi Azad represented Washim, Asgaruddin was MP from Akola, Shafique Ahmed was MP from Chandrapur. Amravati, Kamptee and Nagpur-Central too had Muslim MLAs. There was so much representation. Now, there is not a single Muslim candidate from Vidarbha.
Whom will Muslims vote for now?
The writing is on the wall. Muslims and Dalits have drifted away from Congress. They would vote for the Third Front. We can’t be taken for granted. The Haryana verdict will be repeated in Maharashtra.
Is there a Congress wave?
The pre-poll Congress wave is over now. Rebellions are having a ripple effect among Dalit, Muslim, and Teli communities across Maharashtra. The new formula will be Dalit-Muslim-Bahujan unity.
Will your entry benefit
Not at all. BJP has also done injustice to the Hindi-speaking community and Telis. I will take their votes too. BJP didn’t fulfil its promises to weavers, fishermen and Halba communities. They have ignored minorities and Dalits.
Were you denied a ticket in previous elections too?
I was promised a nomination to Rajya Sabha by the party brass. But an outsider from Uttar Pradesh, Imran Pratapgarhi, was nominated from the Maharashtra quota. I am not a political stalwart. But why did Ghulam Nabi quit? Why are big leaders leaving the party? I am not the lone person to walk out. The grand old party needs to do a post-mortem.
What’s wrong with the official candidate from Nagpur Central?
He is an alcoholic. And people don’t want an addict to be their representative.
