Shock Alliance, Swift Suspension: Congress Acts After BJP Tie-Up Topples Sena In Maharashtra Civic Body

Mumbai: In a dramatic turn of events in Maharashtra’s local politics, an unlikely alliance between the BJP and the Congress wrested control of the Ambernath Municipal Council from the Shiv Sena. The move stunned party workers and voters alike. It also triggered immediate disciplinary action, with the Congress suspending its local councillors who backed the deal.

The episode underlines how sharply local power plays can collide with national party lines.

How Did the Numbers Fall in Ambernath?

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) emerged as the single largest party in the recent civic polls, winning 27 of the 60 seats. But it fell short of a clear majority. The BJP secured 14 seats and the Congress 12, while the remaining seats went to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction and an independent.

What followed was a post-poll surprise. BJP and Congress councillors, along with the NCP group and an independent member, came together to form a new front. The alliance crossed the halfway mark and moved quickly to claim control of the civic body, keeping the Sena out.

Why Did Congress Step In With Suspensions?

The alliance did not go down well with the Congress high command. Within hours, the party suspended all its Ambernath councillors involved in the pact, along with the local block president. 

Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Ganesh Patil, wrote a letter to the Ambernath Congress block president, Pradeep Patil and said that the decision to suspend was taken for violating party discipline and acting against the Congress’s political stand.

The letter stated, "We have fought elections on Congress symbol and we won 12 seats, but without informing the state leadership or the state office, you have done alliance with BJP and this has come to our knowledge through media sources. This is not a good thing, so as per instructions by the state president, Harshwardhan, you are being suspended from the party."

The swift action was meant to send a clear message that local ambitions cannot override broader party strategy.

What Was the BJP’s Stand?

The BJP leadership, too, was uncomfortable with the development. Senior leaders publicly distanced the party from the tie-up. 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said alliances with the Congress at any level were "unacceptable" and should not be encouraged, even in municipal politics.

“Alliance with Congress and AIMIM is not acceptable. It will have to be broken," he said.

How Has Shiv Sena Reacted?

Shiv Sena leaders have accused both parties of backroom politics. They argued that the Sena had the people’s mandate as the single largest party and was denied power through what they called an opportunistic alliance. Party workers have also voiced anger on the ground, saying voters were taken by surprise.