Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and chief of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), has formed an alliance with the Congress for the BMC elections. Ambedkar stated that "sleeper cells" within the Congress previously hindered past alliance attempts. He suggested these elements, whose identities are known to the public, were working against the alliance. He credited Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal for initiating the recent successful talks, implying Sapkal understood past obstacles. The alliance is expected to impact votes for the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance.