In a dramatic political shift that has exposed internal fissures within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), twelve councillors from the Ambernath municipal council, who were suspended by the Congress just a day earlier, officially joined the BJP on Thursday. The hurried induction, overseen by Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan, has triggered significant backlash not only from the opposition but also from prominent leaders within his own party.
A Controversial Welcome Amidst Internal Dissent
The councillors found themselves suspended by the Congress on Wednesday for engaging in what the party termed "anti-party activities." Their transgression was forming a post-poll alliance with the BJP in the Ambernath municipal council, a move that created an awkward coalition between traditional rivals. This bloc, named the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, was crafted to secure a majority in the council and effectively sideline the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena from key decision-making processes.
However, the BJP's decision to formally welcome these suspended Congress members the very next day has backfired internally. Senior BJP minister Ashish Shelar publicly voiced his strong disapproval, stating that the issue would be "discussed intensively within the party." Shelar did not mince words, telling reporters that his personal opinion was that "the Congress councillors should not have been brought into the party."
Shelar's Stern Rebuke and Call for Course Correction
In a candid conversation, Shelar attributed the move to a mistake by certain individuals who, he asserted, must face consequences. "Some people made a mistake, and they have to face action for it," he stated. While not naming state chief Ravindra Chavan directly, Shelar clearly indicated that the induction was a "wrong decision by the party leader" taken in undue haste.
Shelar emphasized the ideological incompatibility of aligning with members from an opposed outfit, a principle he also extended to the party's local alliance with the AIMIM in Akot, which he similarly opposed. Advocating for a swift rectification, he added, "if something was wrong, there was no harm in accepting it as soon as possible." This open criticism highlights the growing discomfort within a section of the BJP over opportunistic local alliances that may conflict with the party's core ideological stance.
The Ambernath Political Calculus and Regional Rivalries
The political maneuvering in Ambernath follows council elections held last month. The electoral arithmetic set the stage for this unusual coalition:
- Shiv Sena (Shinde faction): 27 councillors (Single largest party, but 4 short of majority)
- BJP: 14 councillors
- Congress: 12 councillors (now suspended)
- NCP: 4 councillors
- Independents: 2
With the council president's post being directly elected and won by the BJP, the battle shifted to controlling other crucial posts like vice-president and standing committee chairman. The Congress-BJP alliance was a tactical move to keep the Shinde Sena, despite its numerical strength, out of power.
This local tussle is further charged by broader regional rivalries. The area falls under the Kalyan parliamentary constituency, represented by Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde. BJP's Ravindra Chavan is the MLA from neighboring Dombivli, making the region a longstanding flashpoint between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
The episode underscores the complex and often contradictory nature of local body politics, where immediate electoral gains can sometimes clash with broader party ideology, leading to public discord and strategic dilemmas.
