TNR News Network
DHARAMSHALA:
A small municipal council in Ambernath in Maharashtra’s Thane district has sparked a big political debate. In a move that has surprised allies and opponents alike, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has teamed up with its long-time rival Congress to retain control of the local civic body, a decision that has sent ripples far beyond the town limits.
For a party that has consistently pushed the slogan of a “Congress-mukt Bharat”, the Ambernath experiment marks a sharp tactical turn, driven largely by post-election arithmetic and the need to block the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction from power.
Unlikely partners, common goal
The new ruling formation, named the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, brings together the BJP, Congress and the NCP (Ajit Pawar). The alliance includes 14 BJP councillors, 12 from the Congress, four from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and one Independent, giving it a clear majority of 32 members, including the council president’s position.
With the numbers stacked in favour, BJP leader Tejashree Karanjule was elected president of the Ambernath Municipal Council. This came despite the Shiv Sena (Shinde) emerging as the single largest party after the polls, underscoring how post-result negotiations reshaped the final outcome.
Congress cracks whip on local leaders
The alliance, however, has come at a cost for the Congress. The Maharashtra Congress acted swiftly, suspending Ambernath bloc chief Pradeep Patil along with all Congress corporators involved in the deal, citing a breach of party discipline. The state unit made it clear that local-level arrangements with political rivals would not be tolerated without approval.
Shiv Sena cries foul, BJP hits back
The Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction has slammed the BJP’s move as politically opportunistic. Sena leaders accused the BJP of abandoning ideology for power, calling the tie-up “unnatural” and “ethically questionable”. MLA Balaji Kinikar said the development weakens the broader Mahayuti alliance and sends mixed signals ahead of future civic elections.
The BJP, however, has defended its strategy. Local leader Gulabrao Karanjule Patil said the alliance was forged in the interest of stable and transparent governance. He alleged that corruption cases during the previous Sena-led tenure had damaged the council’s functioning and claimed that repeated attempts to coordinate with the Shinde faction had failed.
The Ambernath episode has highlighted growing fault lines within the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. While the BJP has secured power in the municipal council, its decision has deepened distrust with its traditional ally, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction).
