Shiv Sena, BJP end 5-month AMC power struggle, forge alliance in Maharashtra's Ambernath

AMBERNATH: Ending nearly five months of political confrontation, the Shiv Sena and BJP on Thursday announced an alliance in the Ambernath Municipal Council (AMC), saying the decision was taken in the interest of the city’s development.

The alliance comes shortly after the district collector ruled in favour of the Shiv Sena-NCP group in the ongoing power struggle within the civic body, a decision that strengthened Shiv Sena’s position and dealt a setback to the BJP. Despite gaining an upper hand after the verdict, Shiv Sena leaders said they were willing to put aside political differences to ensure smooth functioning of the municipal council.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference by BJP Kalyan district president Nandu Parab and Shiv Sena Kalyan district president Gopal Landge in the presence of senior local leaders from both parties.

“Like at the state and national level, we have decided to come together in Ambernath as well. Except for a few subject committees, the power-sharing formula has largely been finalised,” said Parab.

Parab said a few pending issues regarding committee allocations will be resolved after discussions with senior party leadership.

Following the municipal elections, both parties had been engaged in an intense battle for control of the council, with shifting political equations involving factions of the NCP and Congress. The prolonged tussle had allegedly affected administrative functioning and delayed civic projects.

With support from four NCP corporators, Shiv Sena now claims the backing of 32 corporators, while BJP’s strength stands at 27.

Expressing displeasure over the alliance, Shiv Sena Ambernath city chief Arvind Walekar said that the BJP should have formed an alliance with Shiv Sena before the elections, but they did not do so. Instead, after the polls, the BJP joined hands with its staunch rival Congress to establish power in the municipal council, which, he said, sent a wrong message across the country. He further stated that if Shiv Sena leaders were expected to ally with the BJP now, all party corporators should have first been taken into confidence before making such a decision.

Despite internal differences among some local Sena corporators over the alliance, leaders from both parties maintained that development of Ambernath would remain the top priority.