In a dramatic turn of events, the Maharashtra Congress leadership has taken strict disciplinary action against its own members for entering into a post-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Ambernath municipal council. The move has sparked a major political controversy, exposing deep fissures within local party units and highlighting the opportunistic alliances shaping civic body politics in the state.
Alliance Forged, Leadership Furious
The controversy erupted a day after Congress and BJP councillors in Ambernath, along with members from Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, unveiled a coalition named the 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi'. This alliance secured a working majority of 31 seats in the council, despite the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena being the single largest party with 27 members. The local understanding was formed to control the civic body's functioning, as resolutions require majority approval in the General Body.
Reacting swiftly, the Congress state brass condemned the decision. The party suspended its local block chief, Pradeep Patil, along with all 12 elected Congress councillors who were part of the arrangement. Show-cause notices were issued, and the party informed Patil in a letter that the Ambernath block unit had been dissolved.
Top Leaders from Both Sides Condemn the Pact
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal stated unequivocally, "We are against any alliance with BJP. We will decide on further action." AICC secretary Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of hunger for power, alleging it lured Congress councillors into an "opportunistic alliance." He further pointed out that the BJP had also tied up with the AIMIM in Akot to secure a council post, calling AIMIM the BJP's "B-team."
Interestingly, the BJP's top leadership also distanced itself from the local arrangement. Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis issued a stern warning. "I am making it very clear that any alliance with Congress or 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 said, adding instructions had been issued to scrap such alliances.
Suspended Councillors Allege Neglect and Corruption
The suspended Congress block chief, Pradeep Patil, hit back with serious allegations. He claimed he had informed party seniors about the post-election tie-up and that the leadership suspended the councillors without hearing their side. Patil announced plans to meet the BJP state chief and the CM, expressing his intent to join the BJP.
Patil voiced his grievances, stating, "We increased the Congress tally from 8 to 12 corporators in a traditional Shiv Sena-BJP stronghold, but no MLA, MP, or state-level leader has even made a courtesy call since our victory." He made a bombshell allegation that state president Harshwardhan Sapkal had demanded Rs 1 crore from him in exchange for the post of block president. Patil claimed he refused to pay, and after this refusal, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik facilitated his appointment. He alleged his suspension was actually retaliation for not paying the money.
A senior Congress leader, dismissing these claims, said the suspended councillors would be considered expelled as they were in the process of joining the BJP purely for "money and power."
This incident in Ambernath is not isolated. In a similar pattern in Akot, BJP members formed the 'Akot Vikas Manch' with AIMIM, also garnering support from Shiv Sena UBT, Shiv Sena, both NCP factions, and Bachchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti Party, taking the alliance's strength to 25. These events underscore the fluid and often ideologically ambiguous alliances being formed at the municipal level across Maharashtra, much to the discomfort of state-level party leaderships who are now scrambling to enforce discipline.
