A controversial political alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Akot town of Maharashtra's Akola district collapsed abruptly on Wednesday. The breakdown occurred mere hours after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued a stern public warning against such arrangements.
Swift Action Follows Chief Minister's Rebuke
The state unit of the BJP moved quickly following the CM's warning, targeting its own legislator. The party issued a show-cause notice to Akot MLA Prakash Bharsakale. The notice accuses Bharsakale of actively promoting the local alliance with AIMIM without seeking approval or consulting the party's senior leadership, a move seen as a violation of party discipline.
The Unstable Municipal Arithmetic in Akot
The backdrop to this short-lived alliance is the fractured mandate in the Akot municipal council. In the recent elections, the BJP had won 11 seats in the 35-member council, falling short of a simple majority. This power vacuum led to complex negotiations. Councillors from multiple parties, including the BJP, AIMIM, both factions of the Shiv Sena, the NCP, the Congress, and Bachchu Kadu-led Prahar Janshakti Party, came together under a new umbrella front.
This coalition was named the ‘Akot Nagar Vikas Manch’. The members of this Manch claimed they had the support of 25 councillors, which would have given them a comfortable majority to control the council.
Political Repercussions and Future Implications
The rapid formation and dissolution of the Akot Nagar Vikas Manch highlights the volatile nature of local body politics in Maharashtra, especially where no single party commands a clear majority. The incident also underscores the BJP's official stance against entering into alliances with AIMIM at any level, a position reinforced forcefully by CM Fadnavis.
The show-cause notice to MLA Prakash Bharsakale signals the party's intent to maintain discipline and control over its local units. The collapse leaves the political future of the Akot municipal council uncertain, with fresh realignments likely on the horizon as different groups scramble to form a stable administration.
