Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar has criticized elements within the Congress, calling them "sleeper cells" and likening some leaders to "Shakuni" for manipulative behavior. This comes as the Congress and VBA finalize an alliance for the Mumbai BMC polls, agreeing to contest 62 seats together. While Congress leaders describe the alliance as natural and ideologically aligned, some within the Mumbai Congress were reportedly surprised by the decision to partner with VBA after initially planning to contest independently.