Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has issued a stern warning to local units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, expressing strong disapproval of their recent electoral partnerships with opposition parties. The Deputy Chief Minister has explicitly forbidden any alliances with the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for upcoming civic body elections.
Direct Orders to Undo Alliances
In a clear directive, Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the local BJP units to immediately terminate any existing pacts with the two rival parties. This reaction comes after the BJP entered into post-poll alliances at the municipal council level in two separate instances. In Ambernath, the BJP allied with the Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP under the 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi' banner, effectively sidelining its traditional ally, the Shiv Sena. In a parallel move in Akola district, the BJP struck a similar deal with the AIMIM and other parties to form the leadership in the Akot Municipal Council.
A Matter of Party Discipline
Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, emphasized that these local arrangements were made without the consent of the party's top leadership. In a statement to a news channel, he made the party's position unequivocal: "I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted." He further stated that if any local leader took such a decision independently, it was a breach of discipline and would invite action. Instructions have already been circulated to dissolve these partnerships.
Violation of Political Norms
These alliances are considered rare because they involve the BJP joining hands with its principal national rival, the Congress, and the AIMIM, a party with a distinct support base. The move in Ambernath was particularly notable for excluding the Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling coalition with the BJP in the state government. Fadnavis clarified that such tactical understandings at the local level violate the party's organizational discipline and do not have the sanction of the senior leadership. The episode highlights the challenges of managing local political ambitions within the framework of national party rivalries.
The Chief Minister's forceful intervention is expected to swiftly reverse these alliances, reasserting central control over the party's local electoral strategy in Maharashtra. More details regarding the disciplinary proceedings and the future of the councils are awaited.
