Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had entered into post-poll alliances with rivals Congress and AIMIM in municipal councils, warning that action would be taken against leaders involved.
Following the December civic polls, reports emerged that the BJP had joined hands with the Congress and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ to form leadership in the Ambernath Municipal Council, sidelining ally Shiv Sena. Similarly, in Akot Municipal Council in Akola district, the BJP reportedly formed an alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and several other parties.
However, CM Fadnavis made it clear that such arrangements were not sanctioned by the party’s senior leadership. “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 said, adding that instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the BJP, saying, “What happened in Akot and Ambernath shows frivolous behaviour of the BJP. The party can forge an alliance with anyone to grab power.” Notably, BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena remain allies in the state’s Mahayuti government.
In Ambernath, the BJP reportedly secured a post-poll understanding with Congress and NCP, together claiming a majority of 31 seats, despite Shiv Sena emerging as the single largest party with 27 councillors. BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected Ambernath Municipal Council president on Wednesday, defeating Sena’s Manisha Walekar. The election for the vice-president is scheduled soon.
CM Fadnavis emphasised that such alliances would not be tolerated and that disciplinary action would be taken against local leaders who defied party directions. “Any local leader who went ahead with such alliances has acted against organisational discipline and will face consequences,” he said.
In Akot, the BJP formed the ‘Akot Vikas Manch’ with AIMIM and support from multiple parties, including both factions of Shiv Sena, NCP, and Prahar Janshakti Party. The BJP won 11 of the 35 council seats, with AIMIM securing five. Maya Dhule of BJP was elected mayor, while Ravi Thakur was appointed group leader. The alliance’s strength stands at 25 councillors, while Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi remain in opposition.
Despite these local arrangements, CM Fadnavis reiterated that BJP’s central leadership does not approve of post-poll alliances with Congress or AIMIM, stressing party discipline and warning that corrective steps had been initiated.