Ambernath Flip Hands, Eknath Shinde Regains Control With NCP Support

A dramatic political realignment in the Ambernath Municipal Council has placed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena back in a commanding position, just days after an unusual BJP-Congress tie-up aimed to sideline it. The 60-member council, which rarely draws statewide attention compared to larger bodies like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has become a microcosm of Maharashtra's complex and fluid post-split political landscape involving two Shiv Senas and two NCPs.

The initial surprise came on Tuesday when the BJP formed an alliance with the Congress—along with support from Ajit Pawar's NCP—to prevent Shinde's Shiv Sena, the single-largest party with 27 seats, from assuming power. The move sparked immediate backlash: the Congress suspended 12 local leaders and dissolved its Ambernath unit for collaborating with the BJP, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed his party to sever ties with the Congress, calling such an alliance unacceptable. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut criticized the BJP for practicing "double standards" by advocating a "Congress-free India" while partnering with the party locally.

The situation took a sharp turn on Friday when the four NCP (Ajit Pawar) councillors withdrew their support from the BJP-led 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi' and extended backing to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. The shift, combined with the 12 suspended Congress councillors joining the BJP, pushed Shinde's faction past the majority mark. With 27 seats of its own, the addition of the four NCP councillors and one independent councillor secured the necessary numbers for control of the council.

Also Read: BJP Respects Vilasrao Deshmukh Beyond Political Differences: Fadnavis

The NCP councillors justified their decision by stating they were uncomfortable sharing power with the Congress, a party they have opposed since the 2023 split in the NCP led by Sharad Pawar. Local leaders also argued that the public mandate favored the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP—coming to power at the local level, rather than an unexpected tie-up with the Congress.

The latest development is viewed as a significant setback for BJP State President Ravindra Chavan, who is reported to have orchestrated the original BJP-Congress arrangement and later facilitated the induction of the suspended Congress councillors into the BJP. The rapid shifts underscore the intricate negotiations, rivalries, and strategic calculations that continue to define municipal politics in Maharashtra, even in smaller civic bodies like Ambernath.

Also Read: Pawars Reunite in Pune Belt to Fight Pimpri Chinchwad Civic Polls Together