Mumbai, Mar 30 (IANS): The Communist Party of India-Marxist has thrown its "full and active" weight behind Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate Prakash Ambedkar who is contesting from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency of Maharastra, an official said here on Saturday.

"This decision has been taken by the CPI-M politburo in New Delhi today. Ambedkar has organized several joint agitations on collective social and financial issues, pertaining to land problems, dalits, tribals, minorities and backwards sections," said state CPI-M General Secretary Narsayya Adam.

Interestingly, he made it clear that the CPI-M is not a part of the VBA, which is an alliance of Ambedkar's Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh and the Owaisi brothers' All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.

Though it has differences with the policies and ideology of the VBA ally, the CPI-M has decided to extend support Ambedkar in Solapur, he pointed out.

Besides contesting from Akola in Solapur, Ambedkar will be pitted against Congress' former Union Minister and Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who has the support of the 56-party Grand Alliance.

Adam said that in view of the historic contributions of the architect of Indian Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, the party has decided to support and ensure the victory of his grandson, Prakash Ambedkar in Solapur.

He added that in order to ensure defeat of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena, the party will try to mobilise maximum votes against them and appealed to people to defeat their candidates in all constituency.