Election 2019: Raj Thackeray is helping us, Ambedkar is helping BJP, sa

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan Tuesday slammed Prakash Ambedkar for trying to split antiBJP votes and praised MNS chief Raj Thackeray for his effective campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ambedkar a prominent Dalit face is contesting the election under the banner of Vanchit Aghadi joining hands with the AIMIM after alliance talks with the Congress fell throughAmbedkars ulterior motive is clear He wants to divide antiModi votes Ambedkar hopes that the fact he is direct descendant of Dr B R Ambedkar will get him votes He tried to use Ambedkars name in Akola in 2014 but came in third Chavan told PTI in an interviewThe former Maharashtra chief minister said except Solapur where Ambedkar himself is in the fray there will be a straight fight everywhere between the alliances led by CongressNCP and BJPShiv SenaI dont think Ambedkar will make a dent in CongressNCPs prospects Dalits should reflect that voting for Ambedkar will be like helping Modi If you want to support Modi vote for him directly he said Minority communities will vote for a candidate who the has the best chance of defeating Modi Chavan saidBSP Samajwadi Party Vanchit Aghadi will not impact the CongressNCPs chances as it is made out to be Except Ambedkar none of his candidates stand a chanceBSP has some influence in East Vidarbha But the party may not succeed this time he said Ambedkar is facing Congress veteran Sushil Kumar Shinde and BJPs Jaisidhheshwar Swamy in Solapur Asked about MNS chief Raj Thackerays blistering attack on Modi and the BJP at a rally here last week Chavan said Raj Thackeray is campaigning very effectively against Modi using audiovisual presentation It is putting the prime minister in correct light Raj needs to be complimentedAsked why the MNS was not made part of CongressNCP alliance Chavan said Our leaders in Mumbai had issues with that because of the past background I dont want to get into it But Raj Thackerays campaign helps all antiModi forces It is advantage for CongressNCP clearly The Congress leader dismissed the talk about rumblings in Maharashtra Congress over selection of candidates and failure of the party to get Ahmednagar as part of the seatsharing pact with the NCPThe issue is over and now we are in campaign mode Each and every seat is important for us he said Sujay Vikhe Patil son of Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil joined the BJP and secured ticket from Ahmednagar after the NCP refused to cede the seat to the Congress Chavan also said that Modi sought to make the election presidentialstyle but the Congress did not fall into his trapBJP wants to make 2019 Lok Sabha campaign a personalitydriven contest It has withdrawn from developmentoriented campaign It is not talking about promises it made in 2014 They are not even talking about promises which they have fulfilled since issues which were not handled will also be spoken about then he saidSab ka saath sabka vikas Development for all which was BJPs slogan earlier is over Chavan added Modi is telling people at his rallies I am the leader and asking opposition parties who is your leader Chavan said adding We are not going to fall into this trap Inadvertently we did fall into this trap in 2014 Congress is focusing on BJPs performance and future dangers of continuation of the BJP in power he said Stating that there is acute agrarian distress he said No amount of sloganeering national security agenda can divert attention from this issueIn Chhattisgarh agrarian anger defeated BJP There is no success for BJP in rural areas Congress is going to question the government on all issues including national security the former Union minister saidCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates