Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who reportedly entered into post-poll alliances with the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in local civic bodies, calling such arrangements “unacceptable” and a serious violation of party discipline.
“The BJP can never form an alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM. Such alliances will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis said, responding to reports of local BJP leaders forging coalitions without approval from the party’s senior leadership.
The Chief Minister said clear instructions have been issued to immediately undo the unauthorised arrangements and confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against those responsible.
“If any local BJP leaders have entered into alliances with these parties without approval, it is a grave breach of party discipline,” he said.
The warning comes after BJP leaders in Ambernath announced a post-poll tie-up 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 alliance partner Shiv Sena. A similar coalition involving the BJP and AIMIM was also formed in Akot in Akola district.
Fadnavis clarified that neither of the alliances had the consent of the party’s central or state leadership.
“Any unilateral decision taken by local leaders is against party discipline,” he said in an interview.
Ambernath civic body results
The developments have drawn attention to internal strains within the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which comprises the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
In the 60-member Ambernath Municipal Council, the BJP-Congress-NCP combine secured a majority with 31 seats, while the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 councillors. BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected council president, defeating Shiv Sena’s Manisha Walekar.
Opposition criticism
Opposition parties criticised the BJP over the alliances. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of opportunism, alleging that the party was willing to align with any group to retain power.
Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar described the move as a betrayal of “coalition dharma” and said it contradicted the BJP’s national stance of promoting a “Congress-mukt Bharat”.
In Akot, the BJP formed the Akot Vikas Manch along with the AIMIM and support from other parties, securing the mayor’s post with BJP leader Maya Dhule elected. The alliance has been formally registered with the district administration ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections scheduled for January 13.
