BJP Chief Devendra Fadnavis Rejects Post-Poll Alliances with Congress and AIMIM

BJP's Stance on Recent Alliances

On Wednesday, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed to a news channel that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will terminate its post-poll alliances with both the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in two municipal councils, deeming them unacceptable.

Fadnavis stated, “These alliances must be dissolved,” and confirmed that directives have been issued to that effect.

He added that the situation would be reviewed, and disciplinary measures would be enforced if any party members were found to have disregarded these orders.

His remarks followed the BJP's formation of local coalitions with the Congress in Ambernath, located in Thane district, and with AIMIM in Akola district's Akot.

After the civic elections held in December, the BJP's Ambernath unit established the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi to prevent the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from gaining control of the municipal council, as reported by a news outlet.

The Shinde faction had emerged as the largest party in the December 20 elections, securing 27 out of 60 seats, just four seats shy of a majority.

The BJP's post-poll coalition included all 14 members from their party, 12 from the Congress, four from the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar, and one independent councillor.

One of the BJP councillors was elected as the president of the municipal council.

On the same day, the Congress party disbanded its Ambernath block committee and suspended the 12 corporators for forming an alliance with the BJP without the consent of the party's state leadership.

Additionally, the BJP also allied with AIMIM and other parties in the Akot Municipal Council.

In the 35-member council, the BJP won 11 seats while AIMIM secured five. With the support of other parties, their alliance's total strength reached 25, according to reports.

This political coalition was officially registered with the Akola district administration in preparation for the upcoming elections for the deputy mayor and committee positions scheduled for January 13.