In a swift political realignment, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured control of the Akot Municipal Council by forming a new multi-party front, just days after facing severe backlash for its short-lived and controversial alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
From Controversy to a New Coalition
The drama unfolded after the BJP, which won 11 out of 33 seats in the December council elections, found itself short of a majority. To secure key positions, the party initially entered into an alliance with AIMIM. This move triggered a statewide political storm and drew sharp criticism from within.
The controversy forced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order an inquiry and prompted state BJP president Ravindra Chavan to issue a show-cause notice to local BJP MLA Prakash Bharsakale. Under intense pressure, the party subsequently abandoned the AIMIM tie-up.
The Birth of 'Akot Vikas Manch'
On Saturday, the BJP backed the formation of a new bloc named 'Akot Vikas Manch'. This front showcases how local power dynamics often override state-level ideological divides. A proposal for its formal recognition was submitted to the district collector.
The ruling coalition now comprises a politically diverse group:
- 11 BJP councillors
- 2 from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction
- 1 from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction
- 1 from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena
- 2 from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)
- 3 from Bachchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti Party
This brings the total to 21 councillors, including the council president, ensuring a comfortable majority. BJP councillor Maya Dhule, elected president in December, continues in her role under the new arrangement.
Pragmatism Over Ideology in Local Politics
The alliance highlights a stark contrast between fierce opposition at the state level and pragmatic cooperation in local governance. Notably, among the Sena (UBT) representatives in the front are deputy district chief Dilip Boche and his wife, corporator Vijaya Boche.
The inclusion of the Prahar Janshakti Party is also significant, as its leader, Bachchu Kadu, led a massive anti-government protest in Nagpur just three months ago.
Meanwhile, AIMIM has been recognized as a separate opposition group in the council. The Akot developments have fueled political criticism elsewhere, with Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray attacking the BJP over its initial AIMIM pact. However, the presence of his own party's corporators in the BJP-led Akot front has exposed a visible contradiction, for which the party leadership has yet to offer a clarification.
This episode in Akot follows a similar shock for the BJP in Ambernath, where the Shinde-led Sena recently turned the tables by luring NCP councillors and independents to stake claim to power.
