Overview
- Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, with one independent, formed a group and submitted a letter staking claim to run Ambernath, aiming to keep the BJP out.
- The move follows Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan’s announcement that all 12 Congress councillors suspended over the Ambernath tie-up have formally joined the BJP.
- Ambernath’s Dec 20 verdict was fractured: Shiv Sena won 27 seats, BJP 14, Congress 12, NCP 4, and two independents in the 60-member council where 31 is a majority.
- A post-poll front called the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi—locally forged by BJP, Congress and NCP leaders with an independent—had earlier claimed a working majority and triggered Congress suspensions.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denounced such local alliances, ordered them dismantled, issued action in a similar Akot case with AIMIM, and said the Ambernath arrangement was not approved by the state leadership.