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After Alliance Row, 12 Ambernath Congress Councillors Join BJP, Bolstering Local Control

The defections hand the BJP-led bloc a working majority in the Ambernath council.

Overview

  • Following a fractured verdict in the 60-member council, the Shiv Sena won 27 seats, the BJP 14, the Congress 12, the NCP 4, with two independents elected.
  • The BJP, Congress and NCP had formed the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi post-poll to sideline the single-largest Shiv Sena, and BJP’s Tejashree Karanjule was elected municipal president.
  • The Congress suspended all 12 of its Ambernath councillors and dissolved the local block over the tie-up, after which the councillors formally joined the BJP.
  • Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis disapproved of unauthorized local alliances with Congress or AIMIM and directed action, as the BJP issued a show-cause notice to Akot MLA Prakash Bharsakhale over a local front involving AIMIM.
  • Shiv Sena leaders called the Ambernath arrangement a breach of coalition norms, intensifying tensions ahead of the January 15 municipal corporation elections, including the BMC polls.