On Wednesday, January 7, the Congress party suspended 12 municipal councillors from Ambernath who had allied with the BJP in the recent civic elections, igniting a political controversy within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti coalition.
This suspension followed the BJP’s formation of local alliances with Congress in Ambernath and AIMIM in Akot, actions that prompted strong reactions from both allies and opposition figures.
Shiv Sena MP Eknath Shinde demanded an explanation from the BJP regarding the formation of these alliances. “You (the media) should inquire how these alliances were created by the BJP. Their leaders may have made these decisions driven by a thirst for power. Senior BJP officials need to take action on this,” Shinde remarked.
#WATCH | Nashik, Maharashtra | Following the BJP’s alliance with Congress in Ambernath and AIMIM in Akot for local body elections, Shiv Sena MP Eknath Shinde states, “You (media) should ask the BJP how they formed these alliances. Their (BJP) leaders may have formed these alliances for… pic.twitter.com/ealvW0XldV
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis distanced the BJP leadership from these developments, stating that such alliances were unacceptable. “Any collaboration with the Congress or AIMIM will not be tolerated. If a local leader made this decision independently, it violates our discipline, and actions will be taken,” Fadnavis told a news outlet, noting that orders had already been given to reverse these arrangements.
Sanjay Raut, an MP from Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the BJP, labeling the incidents in Akot and Ambernath as examples of the party’s “irresponsible conduct.” “The BJP is willing to form alliances with anyone for the sake of power,” Raut stated.
Importantly, the BJP, along with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, are part of the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
Controversy over Ambernath civic alliance
In Ambernath, the BJP reached a post-election agreement with Congress and the NCP, resulting in a combined total of 31 councillors, despite the Shiv Sena being the single largest party with 27 seats. With the backing of one independent councillor, the coalition’s total strength increased to 32, surpassing the majority threshold of 30 in the 60-member civic council.
