The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has caught the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party unawares by demanding the 22 Lok Sabha seats that it has already announced if it were to join the Congress-NCP alliance.

In a meeting held on Tuesday, Aghadi leaders Laxman Mane, Annabhau Patil and Mahesh Rokde told the Congress combine that they could not withdraw candidates in the 22 segments. "We told them to discuss the remaining 26 seats as we have no other choice," Mane told mid-day, adding that the Aghadi wasn't invited to talk earlier, but considering the response, it is getting from the voters, the alliance is now trying to get it in the fold.