The post-civic poll political circles in Maharashtra are throwing up new surprises, with the latest comprising an alliance between arch-rivals BJP and Congress as well as AIMIM in some municipal councils in the state, in what is being seen as an attempt to thwart out the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) from the ruling set-up in a move aimed at “saving the town” and ensuring stable administration, as per the newly-formed group.
Despite its long-standing clarion call for a ‘Congress-free India’, the BJP has joined hands with the Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ to form the Ambernath Municipal Council leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena, with which it formed the Mahayuti government in the state.
The ruling party at the Centre has also struck an alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and several other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district in tie-ups that have prompted state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Shiv Sena to reject the union, with Fadnavis warning of action against party leaders involved and the Shiv Sena calling it “unethical and opportunistic”.
In Ambernath, the BJP secured a majority of 31 seats in alliance with the Congress and the NCP, even though the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 councillors.
BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil, who has been appointed the group leader, told the media that the alliance was formed to free Ambernath from “corruption and intimidation”.
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But, Fadnavis said such arrangements were not approved by the party’s senior leadership, and that they violated organisational discipline. “I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is wrong in terms of discipline and action will be taken,” he told a news channel, adding that instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, also dismissed the alliance, saying it shows the BJP’s “frivolous behaviour”. “What happened in Akot and Ambernath shows frivolous behaviour of the BJP. The party can forge an alliance with anyone to grab power,” he said.
In the December 20 polls to the 60-member civic council, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 27 seats, falling just four short of a majority. The BJP secured 14 seats, Congress 12, NCP 4, while 2 independents were also elected.
With the support of one independent, the three-party coalition’s strength has risen to 32 councillors, crossing the majority mark of 30. The election for the vice-president is due shortly.
In Akot, the BJP formed the ‘Akot Vikas Manch’ with the AIMIM, besides support from the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Prahar Janshakti Party led by Bachchu Kadu.
The BJP won 11 seats in the 35-member council, with two seats pending election, and the AIMIM secured five seats. With the support of various other parties, the alliance’s strength stands at 25.
It was formally registered with the Akola district administration on Wednesday, ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections on January 13. The Congress, with six seats, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, with two, remained in the Opposition.
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