The BJP joined hands with the Congress, its arch-rival, 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
Mumbai: In a major embarrassment for the BJP, Congress and AIMIM in Maharashtra, the parties’ councillors formed a post-poll tie-up with each other in Ambernath and Akot municipal councils respectively, scurrying the party leadership to adopt desperate damage control measures. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed strong displeasure and directed local BJP units to immediately end their alliances. The Congress too suspended its newly-elected councillors in Ambernath for forging an alliance with the BJP and the AIMIM did the same in Akot.
In Ambernath municipal council in Thane district, the BJP joined hands with the Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ to form the civic body’s leadership, in a bid to keep the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena out of power despite it emerging as the single largest party.
In the Akot municipal council in Vidarbha’s Akola district, the BJP established an ‘Akot Vikas Manch’ (Akot Development Forum), where it has allied with the AIMIM, its principal rival in the contest. The front also includes both factions of the Shiv Sena (Shinde and UBT), both factions of the NCP (Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar) and Bacchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party. The Congress (6) and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (2) will sit in the opposition.
The unlikely alliances caused a huge uproar in the state political circles with the BJP facing severe flak and backlash from various quarters. Taking a serious cognizance of it, CM Fadnavis directed the BJP to break its alliances with the Congress and the AIMIM in both municipal councils, saying the tie-ups were ‘not acceptable.’ He also warned of action against BJP leaders involved.
“Alliance with Congress and AIMIM is not acceptable. It will have to be broken. Accordingly, directives have been issued. The matter will be looked into and disciplinary action will be taken if anybody has violated orders. The BJP cannot accept an alliance with Congress or MIM,” Fadnavis said.
The Congress too suspended its local leadership in Ambernath for their decision to join hands with the BJP ‘without the knowledge or approval of the state leadership.’
Calling the move ‘unacceptable,’ the party said the action was taken on the instructions of state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
“We have fought elections on the Congress symbol and won 12 seats. However, without informing the state leadership or the state office, you have entered into an alliance with the BJP. This is not a good thing. As per the instructions of the state president, you are being suspended from the party,” said the party letter to the suspended councillors.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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