Fadnavis Orders BJP Units to Exit Post-Poll Alliances with Congress, AIMIM

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over post-poll alliances forged by local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) units with rival parties, directing that such arrangements be immediately withdrawn and warning of disciplinary action against leaders who violated party directives.

Fadnavis specifically ordered BJP units to end alliances with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Akot and the Congress in Ambernath, stating that the tie-ups were neither authorised by the party’s senior leadership nor acceptable.

“I want to make it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision independently, it is a breach of party discipline, and action will be taken,” Fadnavis told a news channel, according to PTI. He added that instructions had already been issued to reverse the arrangements.

The chief minister’s remarks came in the wake of post-election power-sharing deals entered into by the BJP in municipal councils following last month’s civic polls, which triggered sharp reactions from political allies and the opposition.

Ambernath Row

In Ambernath, the BJP aligned with the Congress and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi to form the municipal council leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena. BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected council president on Wednesday, defeating Shiv Sena candidate Manisha Walekar.

In the December 20 elections to the 60-member Ambernath civic body, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, falling short of a majority by four. The BJP won 14 seats, the Congress 12, the NCP four, while two independents were elected. With the support of one independent, the three-party coalition reached 32 members, surpassing the majority mark of 30. The vice-president’s election is scheduled shortly.

The Shiv Sena strongly criticised the alliance, calling it “unethical and opportunistic”. Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar termed the move a betrayal of “coalition dharma” and said it contradicted the BJP’s national slogan of a “Congress-mukt Bharat”. BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil, appointed as group leader, defended the arrangement, claiming it was aimed at freeing Ambernath from “corruption and intimidation”—an allegation rejected by the Sena.

Akot Developments

In Akot, the BJP formed the Akot Vikas Manch in alliance with the AIMIM, with support from multiple parties including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), and the Prahar Janshakti Party.

The BJP won 11 seats in the 35-member Akot municipal council, while the AIMIM secured five. With backing from other parties, the alliance’s strength rose to 25. BJP’s Maya Dhule was elected mayor, defeating AIMIM candidate Firozabi Sikandar Rana, and Ravi Thakur was appointed BJP group leader. The alliance was formally registered with the Akola district administration on Wednesday ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections scheduled for January 13.

Reacting to the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the BJP, stating that the events in Akot and Ambernath reflected the party’s willingness to align with any group to gain power.

Reiterating his stand, Fadnavis asserted that local-level political arrangements in violation of party policy would not be tolerated, and confirmed that disciplinary action would be initiated against those responsible for defying party instructions.