Maharashtra: BJP, Congress End Alliance After Uproar, Issue Clarifications

Mumbai: The alliance between the BJP and Congress in the Ambernath Municipal Council in Maharashtra has broken down shortly after it was formed. News of the alliance emerged on Wednesday, leading to embarrassment for both parties. Now, the Congress has withdrawn its support. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also objected to the alliance.

What led to the controversy?

The two parties had joined forces in the Ambernath Municipal Council to thwart Eknath Shinde's party. However, this alliance did not last long. The Congress has now suspended its Ambernath block president. Action was taken against him for forming a local-level alliance with the BJP.

What statement did Maharashtra CM Fadnavis give?

Before the Congress's action, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had strongly criticized BJP leaders in Ambernath and Akola for forming alliances with the Congress and AIMIM, and warned of disciplinary action. He clarified that such alliances were formed without the approval of the party's senior leadership and violated organizational discipline.

"I am making it clear that any kind of alliance with the Congress or AIMIM will not be acceptable. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is against discipline and action will be taken against them," Fadnavis said. 

He further added that instructions to cancel such alliances had already been issued.

What did the Congress say?

The Congress party has denied claims of contesting elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Reports had suggested that the two parties were forming an alliance for local elections in Maharashtra, effectively sidelining the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Shiv Sena had strongly objected to this. Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that the Shiv Sena leadership had never responded to their proposals for an alliance.

Congress leader Sachin Sawant clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the BJP and Congress have not formed an alliance. He stated that several parties have united against the Shiv Sena's corruption. It was being reported that the BJP and Congress had joined hands for the Ambernath Municipal Council elections.

"In Ambernath, setting aside party affiliations and symbols, workers from different parties have formed the Ambernath Development Front. They have come together at the local level against the corruption of the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena. Independent candidates are also part of this. Reports of Congress and BJP coming together are false. Please take note of this," he wrote.

What is the Shiv Sena reaction?

According to media reports, the Shiv Sena appears quite upset by this alliance. 

"The party that talks about a Congress-free India will now govern with the Congress. This is nothing but stabbing the Shiv Sena in the back," Shinde faction MLA Balaji Kinikar said.