Eknath Shinde back in driving seat: Another twist in civic polls, 4 NCP councillors dump BJP, give Shiv Sena majority

MUMBAI: In a fresh twist to the political drama in Ambernath municipal council, a day after 12 suspended Congress councillors joined BJP, all four councillors from NCP withdrew support to the BJP-led front and backed Shiv Sena.

Sena, whichhad emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, now has the support of 32 councillors (including an independent), a majority in the 60-member council.




It is a setback to BJP’s attempt to gain a majority by first securing the support of 12 Congress and 4 NCP councillors and then taking the Congress councillors into its fold.

BJP had won the direct election to the post of the council president, but will now have to share power with Sena as key positions such as those of deputy president and chairpersons of local committees are expected to go to Sena and NCP, political observers said. Sena, BJP and NCP contested separately. in the polls held last month.

Ambernath has traditionally been a Shiv Sena stronghold and is also considered the bastion of Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of deputy CM Eknath Shinde. BJP state president Ravindra Chavan and party MLA Kishan Kathore had made strong efforts to dislodge the Sena from office in these elections.

While BJP succeeded in winning the council president’s post with its candidate Tejashri Karanjule coming on top, the party could get only 15 councillors. On the other hand, though the Sena’s candidate for president lost, the party emerged as the single largest by winning 27 seats.

To maintain control of the civic body, the BJP brought together 12 Congress councillors, four from NCP, and one independent, forming a 32-member alliance named the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi. The group was formally registered with the Thane collector, and BJP councillor Abhijit Karanjule was appointed as group leader. However, BJP faced criticism for aligning with Congress, which suspended its councillors, leading all 12 to formally join BJP.