Did BJP Secure Ambernath Council Leadership with Support from Congress and NCP?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ambernath Municipal Council is now led by a BJP-Congress-NCP coalition.
- BJP's Tejashri Karanjule is the new Council President.
- The coalition marks a significant shift in Maharashtra's political landscape.
- Local rivalries continue to influence party alliances.
- Upcoming elections will be crucial for local political dynamics.
Ambernath (Maharashtra), Jan 6 (NationPress) In a striking political transformation that has reverberated through Maharashtra's political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established a majority in the Ambernath Municipal Council with the coalition support of the Congress and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar.
Located in the Thane district, which is also the home district of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Ambernath saw the BJP overpower the Shiv Sena during the recent municipal elections, thus ending its longstanding rule in the area.
Although the Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the party with the most seats, the BJP successfully clinched the President's position and built a working majority through an unexpected alliance.
In the 59-member Ambernath Municipal Council, the seat distribution was as follows: Shiv Sena secured 23 seats, BJP 16, Congress 12, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) four.
By collaborating, the BJP (16), Congress (12), and NCP (4) achieved a combined total of 32 seats, surpassing the majority threshold, consequently relegating the Shinde-led Shiv Sena (23 seats) to opposition status.
The race for the Municipal Council President was a significant prestige contest, pitting State BJP President Ravindra Chavan against Shinde faction MP Shrikant Shinde.
In a closely fought battle, BJP's Tejashri Karanjule triumphed over the Shinde faction's candidate, Manisha Walekar, to claim the title of Council President.
BJP Vice-President Gulabrao Karanjule Patil justified the party's actions, noting that efforts to engage in discussions for a grand alliance (Mahayuti) with the Shinde faction were met with silence.
Historically, Ambernath has been a battleground for the Shiv Sena and BJP, who share a complicated alliance in the Maharashtra-led Mahayuti government, but local rivalries often take precedence over overarching state agreements.
The BJP's readiness to partner with the Congress to push aside the Shinde faction indicates a strategic pivot as these parties seek local supremacy ahead of upcoming state elections.
This political maneuvering occurs amidst the ongoing election process for 29 municipal corporations.
Out of the 29 municipal corporations, the Mahayuti allies are not contesting together in 24 corporations, while the BJP and Shiv Sena are jointly contesting in Mumbai, Thane, and Kolhapur.