In a dramatic political development, the Congress party in Maharashtra has taken strict action against its own members for forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a local municipal body. The party suspended its Ambernath block chief along with all 12 elected councillors for what it termed an "opportunistic" partnership with its political rival.
Congress Cracks Down on Defectors
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Sachin Sawant directly blamed the BJP for luring the newly elected Congress councillors in Ambernath. He accused the BJP of being "power-hungry" and also highlighted a similar alliance in Akot, where the BJP reportedly teamed up with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which he called the BJP's "B-team." The state Congress president, Harshwardhan Sapkal, confirmed the suspensions, stating the party is firmly against any alliance with the BJP.
Political Chess in Civic Bodies
The suspensions highlight the intense political maneuvering occurring in Maharashtra's municipal councils. While the BJP has won the maximum number of president posts, controlling the general body's functioning requires a majority to pass resolutions. This necessity has led to unconventional alliances cutting across traditional political divides as councillors seek to gain control.
A prime example unfolded in Akot, Akola district. Here, BJP members, despite winning 11 seats in the 35-member council, fell short of a majority. They subsequently formed the 'Akot Vikas Manch' or 'Akot Nagar Vikas Manch,' bringing together a surprising coalition. This front included AIMIM (2 seats), Shiv Sena (UBT), Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), Congress, and Bachchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti Party. The alliance claimed the support of 25 councillors, ensuring a commanding majority.
Leadership Disavows Local Alliances
However, this and similar local arrangements faced immediate backlash from the top leadership of the involved parties. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis explicitly stated that such alliances were not approved by the BJP leadership. He declared that any pact with Congress or AIMIM would be unacceptable and warned of action against local leaders who took such decisions independently. Following his warning, the BJP-AIMIM alliance in Akot collapsed within hours.
The state BJP unit also issued a show-cause notice to Akot MLA Prakash Bharsakale for promoting the alliance without consulting the party leadership.
Suspended Leader Alleges Corruption
The suspended Congress block chief from Ambernath, Pradeep Patil, presented a different narrative. He claimed he had informed senior leaders about the post-election local tie-up and was suspended without being heard. Patil announced plans to formally join the BJP, alleging his efforts to increase the Congress tally were not acknowledged.
Patil made a serious allegation against state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, accusing him of demanding Rs 1 crore in exchange for the block president post. He claimed he refused to pay, and his subsequent appointment was facilitated by Congress leader Mukul Wasnik. Patil suggested this refusal was the real reason for his suspension.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Another Congress leader stated the suspended councillors would be treated as expelled since they were joining the BJP for "money and power." He pointed out a legal hurdle: because all councillors took a joint decision, initiating disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law would be difficult.
The series of events underscore the volatile and often transactional nature of grassroots politics in Maharashtra, where the pursuit of power in civic bodies is leading to fluid and unexpected political combinations, much to the discomfort of central party leaderships.
