Political Shift in Akot: AIMIM Faces Setback Ahead of BMC Elections
Significant Political Changes in Akot
In the lead-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has encountered a major political setback in Maharashtra. Four out of five elected councilors from the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district have defected from the party. This dramatic shift has altered the local political landscape, with two councilors aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two joining forces with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar. The Akot Municipal Council comprises a total of 35 seats, with elections recently held for 33 of them. The BJP emerged as the largest party, securing 11 seats, while AIMIM finished third with five seats. To form a ruling council, any party or coalition requires the support of at least 17 councilors.
Current Political Composition in Akot
BJP: 11
AIMIM: 5
Shinde Sena: 1
Shiv Sena (UBT): 2
NCP (Ajit Pawar): 2
NCP (Sharad Pawar): 1
Congress: 6
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi: 2
Prahar Janashakti Party: 3
Formation of 'Akot Development Forum' by BJP
In a strategic move to establish a governing board, the BJP has united councilors from various parties under a new banner called the 'Akot Development Forum.' This coalition includes members from the Shinde Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar), NCP (Ajit Pawar), and the Prahar Janashakti Party, along with the four defectors from AIMIM. The BJP has submitted a formal letter to the Akola collector to register this alliance. Following this shift, the Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi now find themselves in opposition, while AIMIM is left with only one councilor in the municipal council.
Upcoming BMC Elections in 2026
It is noteworthy that a training camp has been organized for the officials and staff of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, who will be on duty during the elections scheduled for January 15 in Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations across the state, including BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Voting in Mumbai will take place across 227 constituencies on January 15, with the counting of votes set for January 16. The deadline for submitting nominations was December 30.