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Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ambedkar grandsons' reunion fizzles out in fallout of Shinde, Republican Sena tie-up
In May this year, Republican Sena president Anandraj Ambedkar said he was willing to set aside his differences with his elder brother and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar, saying 'If Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray could come together, why can't the Ambedkar family unite.' Two months down the line, Anandraj and Prakash, grandsons of B R Ambedkar, are caught in a verbal duel with any possibility of their reconciliation petering out now. This was apparently triggered by Anandraj's decision last week to join hands with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde for the local body elections slated for later this year. The Shinde Sena is a key constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in the state. Following Anandraj's move, Prakash asked the VBA activists and supporters to counter Dalit outfits which have aligned with the BJP/RSS, openly or tacitly, while using B R Ambedkar's name. Raising objection to Anandraj's dismissal of any 'threat' to the Constitution under the ruling BJP-led NDA, Prakash has alleged that the Republican Sena has 'compromised' its ideology by tying up with the Shinde Sena. 'The Republican Sena's alliance with the Shiv Sena not only undercuts the fight against BJP and its allies to save Constitution but is also against the ideology of Phule-Shahu- Ambedkar,' the VBA chief claimed. 'It is now up to followers of Phule, Shahu and Ambedkar whether they want to stand with a puppet of BJP/RSS whose ideology is to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti, or to stand with someone whose ideology is to uphold and defend the Constitution,' Prakash said. Hitting back, Anandraj said, 'Republican Sena has forged an alliance with Shiv Sena on a common agenda of welfare of oppressed and backward classes. We have not joined BJP/ RSS. So where is the question of compromising our ideology. We are committed to Ambedkar's teaching and principles.' The rising tension between Prakash and Anandraj seems to have derailed the possibility of their reunion. A senior VBA leader close to the Ambedkar family said, 'The Dalit leaders championing the cause of social justice and welfare of oppressed have failed to unite and work as a team. Unfortunately, everyone wants to become a leader. And it becomes easier for established parties in both the ruling and Opposition camps to exploit this weakness to their advantage.' The Republican Party of India (RPI) was founded by B R Ambedkar in September 1956, which evolved after the dissolution of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation. Over the decades the RPI disintegrated into several breakaway outfits, including the RPI (A) led by Union minister Ramdas Athawale, RPI (Gawai), RPI (Kawade) and RPI (Khobragade). There had been attempts in the late 1990s to unite various RPI factions. Coming on a common platform, they fought the 1998 Lok Sabha elections together in alliance with the Congress, getting four seats won by Prakash Ambedkar, Ramdas Athawale, Ramakrishna Gawai and Jogendra Kawade. Their joint RPI front however unravelled after some time. In 2009, their another attempt for unity failed. Since his student days, Prakash Ambedkar had been part of the RPI. In 1994, he left the party to form his outfit Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, which evolved into the VBA in 2018. Anandraj broke away from the RPI to float the Republican Sena in 1998. Although based on Ambedkar's philosophy like other RPI factions, the Republican Sena has a limited presence in the state. It is known for having a base among Dalits and marginalised, especially in pockets of Mumbai and some places in the Vidarbha region. In contrast, Prakash has been rooted in state politics for several decades, and has a wider acceptance and larger socio-political network across the regions. In November 2022, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar, asserting that they came together to save the Constitution and democracy, which had been facing a 'threat', they alleged, from the BJP dispensation. An ally of the Opposition Maha Vikash Aghadi (MVA), Uddhav's alliance with Prakash however fell through ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The VBA contested in these polls alone, failing to open its account. A Shinde Sena insider said, 'Shinde earlier tried to join hands with Prakash Ambedkar. He wanted VBA to become an ally of the Mahayuti in 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. However, Prakash preferred to go solo in these polls.' Besides his critics, even a section of Dalits believe that Prakash has not been able to lead the community effectively. Even in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the VBA, contesting alone, had drawn a blank, although it was said to have hurt the prospects of the then Opposition Congress-NCP coalition in several seats by causing a division of 'secular votes' between them. The Shinde Sena has allied with the Republican Sena with a view to boosting its prospects in the upcoming local body elections, especially the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. It indicated Shinde's bid to expand the Sena's support base beyond Marathis to include Dalits. For his part, Anandraj is looking to find his feet in state politics through this alliance in the local body polls. He said, 'The alliance is for the welfare of oppressed segments. It would also provide a platform to them to participate in power.' Rejecting the VBA's charge that Anandraj 'buckled under Shinde's power play', a Republican Sena insider pointed out how Prakash had himself tried to form an alliance with Uddhav ahead of the 2024 polls.
Indian Express
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As war of words turn ugly, reunion plans of Ambedkar brothers fizzle out
Anandraj Ambedkar, president of Republican Sena, had said on May 18 that he was willing to set aside differences with his elder brother and president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Prakash Ambedkar. Anandraj Ambedkar had said, 'If they (Raj and Uddhav Thackeray) can come together, why can't the Ambedkar family unite?' Exactly two months later, Prakash and Anandraj, grandsons of Dr B R Ambedkar, are caught in an ugly war of words with no signs of reconciliation. Anandraj Ambedkar's decision to form alliance with the Shiv Sena led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde last week has not gone down well with VBA. In an internal meeting of VBA, Prakash Ambedkar directed his followers to unite and fight all Dalit outfits which are using B R Ambedkar's name and are directly or indirectly aligning with right wing BJP/RSS. Prakash Ambedkar has taken strong objections to younger brother Anandraj dismissing any threat to Constitution under ruling BJP-led NDA. While alleging that Republican Sena has ideologically compromised its core principles by aligning with Shinde's Shiv Sena, which is in alliance with BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, Prakash Ambedkar said, 'The Republican Sena's alliance with the BJP ally Shiv Sena is not only against the movement's fight against BJP/allies to save Constitution, but also against the ideology of Phule-Shahu- Ambedkar.' 'It is now up to the followers of Phule, Shahu, Ambedkar whether they want to stand with a puppet of RSS/BJP whose core ideology is to replace Constitution with Manusmriti, or stand with someone whose ideology is to uphold and defend the Constitution,' said Prakash Ambedkar. The sharp attack by Prakash against Anandraj indicates that the differences between the two factions are getting bitter. With Anandraj taking the decision to ally with Shiv Sena, the possibility of a reunion between the Ambedkar brothers is now a closed chapter. Countering the charges, Anandraj said, 'Republican Sena has forged an alliance with Shiv Sena. We have done this alliance underlining the common agenda of welfare of oppressed and backward classes. In any case, Republican Sena has not joined BJP/ RSS. So, where is the question of compromising ideology. We are committed to Ambedkar's teachings and principles.' Though Prakash and Anandraj have been working separately for past three decades, this is first time their differences are being played out in public. A senior VBA leader known to Ambedkar family said, 'The Dalit leaders championing the cause of social justice and welfare of oppressed have failed to unite and work as a team. Unfortunately, everyone wants to become a leader. And it becomes easier for established parties, both ruling and opposition, to exploit this weakness to its advantage.'
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Eye on BMC polls, Shinde Sena ties up with Republican Sena in Dalit outreach
Grappling with various challenges from within and outside the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde has joined hands with the Republican Sena led by Anandraj Ambedkar, grandson of B R Ambedkar, ahead of the state's local body elections slated later this year. Both Shinde and Anandraj together made this announcement at a press conference in Mumbai Wednesday. The Shinde Sena seems to have forged this alliance with a view to boosting its prospects in the upcoming local body elections, especially the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. It indicated Shinde's bid to expand the Sena's support base beyond Marathis to include Dalits. Republican Sena is known for having a base among Dalits and the poor and downtrodden, especially in pockets of Mumbai and some places in the Vidarbha region. The tie-up has come amid growing buzz of an alliance between Shinde's arch rival and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray as part of their attempts to consolidate the Marathi votes for the local body polls. The Uddhav-led Sena had earlier dominated the BMC. Besides this formidable challenge, Shinde is facing a friction in his relations with the state BJP leadership over power sharing, even as the Shiv Sena is also reeling from various rows involving some of his MLAs and ministers. While addressing the press conference along with Anandraj, Shinde said, 'I have always upheld my identity as someone who is dedicated to common man. The alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar is a step forward to reach out and accommodate those segments who are poor, needy and backward.' Noting that the strength of any organisation is dependent on its workers, Shinde said the leaders should always stand by their workers during crises. He said common people also expect their leaders to give them a helping hand in times of hardship. On his part, Anandraj said their ideological differences would not come in the way of their tie-up. 'Both Shiv Sena and Republican Sena follow Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution. There are no ideological differences as we are both committed to welfare of the poor, oppressed and backward,' he said. When Shinde was the CM during the previous Mahayuti regime, he had hosted several Buddhist monks and their followers at his then official residence 'Varsha', Anandraj said. 'Today, we pledge unconditional support to Shiv Sena. All we expect is our workers' concerns should be accommodated and that they get a participatory role in the local bodies polls,' he said. Who is Anandraj Ambedkar? Anandraj is the younger brother of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar. They had earlier been part of the Republican Party of India (RPI). In 1998, Anandraj founded the Republican Sena. Although based on Ambedkar's philosophy like other RPI factions, the Republican Sena has a limited presence in the state. In contrast, Prakash Ambedkar has been rooted in state politics for several decades, and has a wider acceptance and larger socio-political network across Maharashtra. Anandraj was in the limelight in 2011 when he led a protest and occupied the Indu Mill land at Dadar in Mumbai. They were protesting against the government's failure to implement its proposal to set up a B R Ambedkar memorial complex with his statue there. Anandraj also made headlines in 2012 when he started an agitation seeking the removal of encroachments from the Buddhist caves and monuments in different parts of Maharashtra. B R Ambedkar along with lakhs of his followers had converted to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur in 1956. By launching a stir over the Buddhist monuments, Anandraj had sought to connect with a larger section of Dalits and Ambedkarites. Over the last five decades, the RPI has been split into various breakaway outfits, which include the RPI (A) led by Union minister Ramdas Athawale, the RPI (Kawade) and the RPI (Gawai), among others. The alliance between the Shiv Sena and the Republican Sena is not likely to make any significant electoral impact in the state, with the move seen in political circles as a Shinde bid to mobilise smaller outfits to strengthen his own party. The RPI (A) is part of the BJP-led NDA in the state and at the Centre. It is said to have the support of a significant percentage of Dalit voters. The Athawale-led party had allied with the then undivided Sena led by late Bal Thackeray in the 1990s, which was dubbed an 'alliance of Shiv Shakti and Bhim Shakti'. This pitch was again made in November 2022, when Sena UBT chief Uddhav, son of Bal Thackeray, joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar. They asserted that they came together to save the Constitution and democracy, which had been facing a 'threat', they alleged, from the BJP dispensation. Both even recalled how their grandfathers had unitedly fought against various social evils including caste discrimination. In the 1950s, two political stalwarts, B R Ambedkar and Prabodhankar Thackeray, Bal Thackeray's father, had come together to fight against untouchability, dowry and casteism. A key constituent of the Opposition Maha Vikash Aghadi (MVA), Uddhav's alliance with Prakash Ambedkar however fell through ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The VBA contested in these polls alone, failing to open its account.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dalit outreach: Shinde Sena joins hands with Anandraj Ambedkar ahead of civic polls
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a bid to strengthen its ranks ahead of the civic body polls, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has forged a pre-poll alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar 's Republican Sena . Anandraj, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and younger brother of Prakash Ambedkar-who leads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA)-may not wield as much political clout as his elder brother but retains pockets of influence within the Dalit move is being closely watched as, despite its alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has yet to formally announce a tie-up for the civic polls. It is seen as a signal to the BJP that the Sena could upset its plans if it goes solo, with the saffron-Dalit combination proving advantageous for Shinde's party."We have faith in each other. We are both grassroots workers, and there will be no issues unlike the Maha Vikas Aghadi. We have come together with a shared mindset-our alliance is meant to benefit the people," Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said at a joint press conference with Ambedkar on Wednesday.
