Thane, Maharashtra – December 21, 2023 – In a stunning political realignment, rivals BJP and Congress have forged an unlikely alliance in Ambernath, Maharashtra, to challenge the shiv Sena’s long-held dominance of the municipal council. It’s a move that’s sending ripples through local politics and raising eyebrows even as larger civic elections loom.
Unexpected Coalition Takes Shape in Ambernath
A surprising partnership between the BJP and Congress aims to unseat the Shiv Sena in a key Maharashtra municipality.
- The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won the most seats-27 of 60-in the December 20th polls, falling just short of a majority.
- The BJP and Congress, along with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, have formed the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, securing a combined 32 seats.
- The alliance follows a municipal president election where the Sena’s Manisha Walekar lost to the BJP’s Tejashree Karanjule Patil.
- The Shiv Sena has condemned the coalition as “unethical and opportunistic.”
What does this unexpected alliance mean for the future of Ambernath’s local governance? This coalition signals a willingness among opposition parties to prioritize ousting the Shiv Sena, even if it means setting aside customary rivalries. The move underscores the high stakes of upcoming elections in larger cities like Mumbai and Thane.
The third member of the newly formed Ambernath Vikas Aghadi is Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The BJP secured 14 seats, while Congress won 12 Congress councillors, four NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) councillors, and one independent-totaling 32 members and securing a majority in the 60-member council.
The development has drawn sharp criticism from the Shiv Sena, which has labeled the Aghadi an “unethical and opportunistic arrangement.” Shiv Sena MLA from Ambernath, Balaji Kinikar, pointed out the apparent contradiction of the BJP campaigning nationally for a “Congress-free India” while concurrently strengthening Congress at the municipal level for the sake of power. He alleged that discussions were held with BJP leaders, but the party ultimately chose a coalition with Congress.
Attempts to reach Congress’s Ambernath city president Pradeep Patil were unsuccessful. A Congress spokesperson explained that in Ambernath, the options were to align with either the BJP or the Shinde faction, or abstain from voting, and that no formal alliance proposal had been received.
