Nashik: The newly formed Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has kicked off its campaign in Nashik and Dindori constituencies with a focus on deprived people from society across caste and religious divides.Party candidates Pawan Pawar, former corporator in Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for Nashik constituency and Bapu Barde, retired ASI from Maharashtra Police, for Dindori, started campaigning, taking on the might of established opponents like Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and BJP.“We do not have money or muscle power. Our strength is the people who do not have their relatives in any of the political parties and the ones who feel they are deprived, on whatever grounds,” Pawan Pawar, campaigning in Rajur Bahula area of Nashik parliamentary constituency, said.Pawar has taken up cudgels against incumbent MP Hemant Godse (from Shiv Sena, supported by BJP) and former MP Sameer Bhujbal (from NCP and supported by Congress).VBA claims that it is the party of the deprived and plans to bring together people from slums and caste groups that have earlier never been represented among the elected representatives. The party will campaign among farmers and agricultural labourers too, who face enormous distress with the repeated drought in the past few years.“When I go around the villages, I reach out to people living in the slums and those who have long suffered exploitation. I tell them to vote without fear. Our presence will ensure fair elections,” Pawar said, adding that he has received a warm welcome among members of families of farmers who had committed suicide.“VBA brings into its fold even the Marathas. Relatives of farmers who committed suicide have extended support to us, given how troubled they are with the current situation,” Pawar said.

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