Mumbai: In an unexpected political alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has joined forces with its longtime rivals, the Congress Party, as well as the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. This surprising collaboration has emerged during the Maharashtra municipal council elections, shaking the political landscape and raising eyebrows among party leaders.
The alliance was formed ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for December 20, with local leaders taking the initiative to forge these unusual ties, bypassing directives from party high commands. This has drawn ire from senior leaders within the respective parties, who have expressed their discontent and initiated disciplinary actions against the local leaders involved. Notably, the BJP and Congress have come together in the Ambernath Municipal Council and the Akola Municipal Council, marking a significant shift in their political strategies.
In Ambernath, the coalition named “Ambernath Vikas Aghadi” includes the BJP, Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, effectively sidelining the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). In the recent council elections, the Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party, winning 27 out of 60 seats, while the BJP secured 14 seats, Congress won 12, and the NCP garnered 4 seats, along with 2 independent candidates. With the support of an independent councilor, the coalition’s strength has reached 31, allowing them to secure the chairman’s position.
BJP leader Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected as the Municipal Council Chairman on Wednesday, marking a significant victory for the coalition. However, this unexpected collaboration has led to outrage within the Congress party, particularly towards its newly elected councilors who chose to support the BJP. The Congress leadership has announced the suspension of 12 newly elected councilors along with block president Pradeep Patil, emphasizing that such alliances were made without the consent of the party’s state leadership.
Asaduddin Owaisi, while addressing the developments, firmly denied any possibility of an alliance with the BJP, asserting that the AIMIM remains committed to its principles and does not plan to collaborate with the BJP at any point. The Akola Municipal Council saw a different coalition emerge, dubbed “Akola Vikas Manch,” which comprises the BJP, AIMIM, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction), Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and both factions of the NCP. The coalition’s strength in this council has also reached 25, with BJP’s May Dhule being elected as the Municipal Chairman, relegating Congress to the opposition status.
The political ramifications of these alliances are profound, with BJP MP Anup Dattatreya reporting that four members from AIMIM have defected to support the BJP. In response, Owaisi reiterated his party’s stance against any alliance with the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis condemned the unethical alliances, insisting that such actions would not be tolerated and vowing strict measures against local leaders who deviate from party principles. He asserted that all party members must adhere to discipline and policies.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) MP Sanjay Raut criticized the BJP for its double standards, pointing to the hypocrisy in forming alliances with opposition parties. As the municipal elections approach, the political landscape remains volatile, with these unprecedented alliances likely to have lasting implications for future elections in Maharashtra.
