Addressing a rally at the Shaniwarwada grounds, Ambedkar said he would declare the decision regarding the alliance at an ``appropriate time.'' Maintaining that no one was willing to focus on the real issues concerning the common people, Ambedkar said that in the ensuing elections too, the real issues are being neglected.

The Bharatiya Janata Party would not be able to get more than 180 seats at the Centre, while in Maharashtra too the Shiv Sena would be routed, he said. Ambedkar questioned why the Pune Lok Sabha seat should not be contested by a Dalit candidate.