In a dramatic political realignment that has reshaped the Ambernath municipal council, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has dealt a significant blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempts to secure a majority. All four NCP councillors have withdrawn their support from the BJP-led front and have now pledged their allegiance to the Shiv Sena. This move comes just a day after 12 suspended Congress councillors formally joined the BJP.
A Swift Change in Numbers and Allegiances
The political landscape in Ambernath has undergone a rapid transformation. Following the recent local body polls, Shiv Sena had emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats in the 60-member council. With the support of the four NCP councillors and one independent, the Sena's effective strength now reaches 32 councillors, granting it a clear majority. This development marks a sharp reversal for the BJP, which had been actively working to cobble together a ruling coalition.
BJP's strategy involved first securing the backing of the 12 Congress and 4 NCP councillors. After the Congress suspended its 12 members for engaging with the BJP, all of them officially joined the BJP's ranks. This, combined with the NCP support and an independent, had initially formed a 32-member alliance named the 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi'. The group was formally registered with the Thane district collector, and BJP councillor Abhijit Karanjule was appointed its leader.
Setback for BJP's Local Ambitions
This series of events represents a notable setback for the BJP's concerted efforts to gain control of the Ambernath civic body. The region is traditionally considered a Shiv Sena stronghold and is also viewed as the bastion of Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, who is the son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. BJP state president Ravindra Chavan and party MLA Kishan Kathore had invested considerable effort to dislodge the Sena from power in these elections.
While the BJP succeeded in winning the direct election for the council president's post, with its candidate Tejashri Karanjule securing the position, the party itself could only win 15 seats in the general polls. Conversely, although the Sena's candidate for president lost, the party's performance as the single largest group with 27 seats laid the groundwork for its current resurgence.
Power-Sharing and Future Implications
Political observers indicate that the BJP, despite holding the council president's post, will now have to share power with the Shiv Sena. Key positions such as the deputy president and the chairpersons of various local committees are now expected to go to the Shiv Sena and the NCP. This forced cohabitation underscores the fractured mandate and the intense competition between the former allies, who contested the polls separately last month.
The BJP also faced criticism from various quarters for its decision to align with Congress councillors, a move that ultimately led to their suspension and subsequent mass defection to the BJP. The latest withdrawal of support by the NCP has further complicated the BJP's plans, solidifying Shiv Sena's position and setting the stage for a new power equation in the Ambernath municipal council.
