‘Won’t be accepted’: Fadnavis rejects BJP’s local tie-ups with Congress, AIMIM

Fadnavis said such alliances would not be acceptable under any circumstances and asserted that action would be initiated against BJP leaders who defied party directions, underlining the leadership’s intent to enforce organisational discipline.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Wednesday, firmly rejected post-poll alliances forged by the BJP with the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in some municipal councils in the state, warning of disciplinary action against party leaders who took such decisions without authorisation.

“I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is wrong in terms of discipline and action will be taken,” Fadnavis told a news channel Wednesday morning. He added that instructions had already been issued to undo these arrangements, stressing that such tie-ups were not approved by the party’s senior leadership.

Fadnavis’ remarks come amid political controversy triggered by unexpected post-poll alliances entered into by the BJP following civic elections held last month, particularly in Ambernath in Thane district and Akot in Akola district.

In Ambernath, the BJP joined hands with its national rival Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form the ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’, sidelining its state ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena had emerged as the single-largest party in the 60-member municipal council with 27 seats but fell four short of a majority.

In the December 20 elections, the BJP won 14 seats, the Congress secured 12, the NCP four, and two independents were elected. With the support of one independent, the BJP-Congress-NCP combine reached a strength of 32 councillors, crossing the majority mark of 30.

BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected president of the Ambernath Municipal Council on Wednesday, defeating Shiv Sena candidate Manisha Walekar, and was administered the oath of office. The election for the vice-president is due shortly.

The three-party alliance claimed that the move was aimed at “saving the town” and ensuring stable administration. BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil, who has been appointed the group leader, said the alliance was formed to free Ambernath from “corruption and intimidation”.

The Shiv Sena, however, strongly criticised the development. Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar termed the alliance a betrayal of “coalition dharma” and said it ran contrary to the BJP’s national slogan of a “Congress-mukt Bharat”. He alleged that while the BJP speaks of a Congress-free India, it has partnered with the party locally “only for power”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also attacked the BJP, saying, “What happened in Akot and Ambernath shows frivolous behaviour of the BJP. The party can forge an alliance with anyone to grab power.” The BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are allies in the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra.

A similar controversy erupted in the Akot municipal council in Akola district, where the BJP formed the ‘Akot Vikas Manch’ with the AIMIM, along with support from multiple parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Prahar Janshakti Party led by Bachchu Kadu.

The BJP won 11 seats in the 35-member Akot council, with two seats pending election, while the AIMIM secured five. With the backing of other parties, the alliance commands the support of 25 councillors. BJP’s Maya Dhule was elected mayor, defeating AIMIM candidate Firozabi Sikandar Rana, while BJP’s Ravi Thakur was appointed group leader, with all allies bound by the party whip.

The alliance was formally registered with the Akola district administration on Wednesday, ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections scheduled for January 13. The Congress, with six seats, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, with two, remained in the Opposition.

Reiterating his stance, Fadnavis said such alliances would not be acceptable under any circumstances and asserted that action would be initiated against BJP leaders who defied party directions, underlining the leadership’s intent to enforce organisational discipline.