Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Slams BJP-Congress Alliance in Ambernath: “Any Form of Tie-Up With Congress is Wrong”
Mubmai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, January 7, expressed strong disapproval after the Bharatiya Janata Party forged an unexpected alliance with the Congress in Ambernath municipal council ahead of critical civic elections scheduled for January 15.
Speaking to a television news channel, Fadnavis categorically condemned the move, stating such a coalition should never have materialized. He revealed that, according to his understanding, negotiations were ongoing with Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction in Ambernath. He added that if local BJP functionaries independently proceeded to align with Congress, the decision was fundamentally flawed.
“Alliance with Congress in any form is wrong. I will be asking questions to my workers,” Fadnavis declared, as quoted by Republic TV. Additionally, the BJP established comparable partnerships with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and other parties in the Akot Municipal Council located in Akola district, according to news agency PTI.
Shinde Sena Calls Move “Unethical”
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena sharply criticized the development, branding it “unethical and opportunistic.” Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar characterized the alliance as a violation of “coalition dharma” and contradictory to the BJP’s national objective of achieving a “Congress-mukt Bharat.”
The party also faced condemnation from Shiv Sena (UBT), with MP Sanjay Raut accusing the BJP of maintaining double standards. “What happened in Akot and Ambernath shows frivolous behaviour of the BJP. The party can forge an alliance with anyone to grab power,” Raut remarked.
Election Results and Coalition Mathematics
In the December 20 elections for the 60-member civic council, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena emerged as the largest party with 27 seats, falling just four seats short of the majority threshold. The BJP captured 14 seats, Congress secured 12, NCP won 4, while 2 independent candidates were also elected.
With backing from one independent councillor, the three-party coalition’s aggregate strength has climbed to 32 members, surpassing the majority requirement of 30. BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil, designated as the group leader, informed media representatives that the alliance was established to liberate Ambernath from “corruption and intimidation.”