The Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), headed by Prakash Ambedkar, has unveiled its second list of candidates for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, scheduled for November 2024. This announcement, made on Wednesday, features ten Muslim candidates, representing a notable political shift as several Muslim leaders from Congress have switched allegiance to the VBA.

Ambedkar shared the announcement via the social media platform X, stating, "The Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi is pleased to declare its second list." This development underscores the VBA's increasing impact within Maharashtra?s political arena, particularly among minority groups.

During a press conference organized by the VBA earlier on Wednesday, a group of ten Muslim leaders from Congress disclosed their intent to exit the party and join the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi. Among the defectors is Khatib Syed Natiquddin, who is featured on the candidate list for the upcoming elections. The leaders voiced their dissatisfaction with the Congress party's perceived "soft Hindutva" stance, arguing that it neglects the needs of the Muslim community.

"There should be no compromise on the equal participation of Muslims," Khatib Syed Natiquddin emphasized during the press conference. This collective departure from Congress to VBA is viewed as a significant blow to the former, which has historically depended on minority support in Maharashtra.

This latest list of ten Muslim candidates follows the VBA's earlier announcement last month, which included eleven candidates. With this addition, the total number of VBA candidates has reached twenty-one as they gear up for the vital state elections.

Previously, Prakash Ambedkar's VBA had formed an alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition that included Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, failed seat-sharing negotiations between the VBA and MVA prompted Ambedkar to break away from the coalition and contest the elections independently.

With the entry of notable Muslim leaders and increasing discontent among Congress supporters, the VBA's participation in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections is poised to challenge established parties. As the political landscape evolves ahead of the November elections, the VBA's focus on enhancing minority representation is likely to attract considerable attention.