Twelve newly elected Congress councillors from Maharashtra’s Ambernath Municipal Council, who were suspended for aligning with the BJP after the local body elections, have formally joined the saffron party. Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan confirmed the development on Wednesday, saying the councillors’ decision was driven by a commitment to development rather than political power.
“The people elected these councillors on the promise of development. They believe the BJP-led government is dynamic and capable of delivering justice and progress,” Chavan said.
The political churn follows the December 20 municipal council elections in Ambernath, Thane district, which resulted in a fractured mandate. Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats in the 60-member council, falling short of a majority. The BJP won 14 seats, Congress 12, Ajit Pawar-led NCP four, and two independents were elected.
In a surprising post-poll move, the BJP and Congress—traditional rivals—joined hands along with the NCP to form a governing alliance named the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi (AVA), sidelining Shiv Sena despite its electoral strength. With the support of an independent councillor, the alliance secured a majority of 32 members.
Embarrassed by the local alliance with the BJP, the Congress suspended all 12 of its newly elected councillors in Ambernath along with block president Pradip Patil, and later dissolved its local block unit. Hours after the suspension, the councillors formally joined the BJP.
Chavan said the switch reflected growing confidence in the BJP-led Mahayuti government, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and the NCP. However, Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena reacted sharply, calling the developments a violation of “coalition dharma” and alleging that the arrangement was aimed at keeping the Sena out of power.
Earlier, Congress leader Sachin Sawant maintained there was no formal alliance between the Congress and the BJP, claiming the councillors had come together only to oppose alleged corruption by the Shiv Sena at the local level.
The controversy has also widened to other regions. In Akot municipal council in Akola district, the BJP’s local unit allied with the AIMIM, prompting the party to issue a show-cause notice to BJP MLA Prakash Bharsakhale. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also warned that any unauthorised alliances with the Congress or AIMIM would invite strict disciplinary action.
The developments come amid heightened political activity in Maharashtra ahead of the January 15 elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
