Overview
- Mahashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan announced late Wednesday that all 12 suspended Ambernath Congress councillors have joined the BJP, calling the move development-focused.
- Congress had suspended the councillors and dissolved its Ambernath block after they backed the post-poll Ambernath Vikas Aghadi with the BJP and NCP without approval.
- Ambernath’s December 20 results produced a fractured verdict: Shiv Sena 27 seats, BJP 14, Congress 12, NCP 4 and two independents, after which the AVA initially sidelined the Sena.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said local tie-ups with Congress or AIMIM would not be accepted and warned of action, with a show-cause issued to BJP MLA Prakash Bharsakhale over the Akot arrangement.
- Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena termed the developments a breach of coalition dharma, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena and Congress accused the BJP of double standards.