Mumbai, Jan 7: Post-poll alliances forged by the BJP with the Congress and the AIMIM in two Maharashtra municipal councils have triggered political turmoil, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and ally Shiv Sena openly opposing the local-level arrangements.
The BJP entered into a post-election understanding with the Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in the Ambernath Municipal Council, while a similar alliance was stitched together with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and other parties in Akot of Akola district.
Fadnavis said such alliances were taken without approval and would not be tolerated.
“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 against party discipline and action will be taken,” the chief minister told a news channel.
In Ambernath, the BJP-led front sidelined Shiv Sena, despite the latter emerging as the single-largest party. Sena won 27 seats in the 60-member council, falling short of a majority, while the BJP secured 14, Congress 12, and NCP four.
With the backing of one Independent, the BJP-Congress-NCP alliance crossed the majority mark. BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected council president, defeating Sena’s Manisha Walekar.
The Congress responded by suspending 12 newly-elected councillors and its block president Pradip Patil for joining hands with the BJP without state leadership consent.
“There is no formal alliance with the BJP. This front was formed without permission,” Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.
Shiv Sena leaders described the move as unethical. Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar said it amounted to a breach of “coalition dharma”.
