Maharashtra civic elections 2026: After Congress tie-up in Ambernath, BJP joins hands with AIMIM in Akot

Maharashtra civic elections 2026 continue to throw up politically unlikely alliances After partnering with its traditional rival Congress to wrest control of the Ambernath Municipal Council from the Shiv Sena the BJP has now stitched together an equally surprising alliance with the All India MajliseIttehadul Muslimeen AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi in Akot to secure control of the Municipal Council thereFadnavis rejects tieups warns actionThe BJP has entered into postpoll alliances with rivals Congress and AIMIM in some municipal councils in Maharashtra even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tieups and warned of action against party leaders involvedCM Fadnavis however made it clear that such arrangements were not approved by the partys senior leadership and violated organisational discipline reported PTII am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own it is wrong in terms of discipline and action will be taken Fadnavis told a news channel adding that instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances reported PTIBJP wins Akot civic body despite falling short of majorityIn Akot BJPrsquos Maya Dhule was elected President despite the party falling well short of a majority in the 35member council Of the 33 seats contested last month the BJP won just 11 To bridge the gap the party floated a new front mdash the Akot Vikas Manch mdash to consolidate numbers reported IANSAIMIM joins BJPled front in surprise moveIn a move that has raised eyebrows across political circles the AIMIM which secured five seats and was the BJPrsquos principal rival in the civic contest joined the BJPled allianceThe front also includes both factions of the Shiv Sena Shinde and UBT both factions of the NCP Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar and Bacchu Kadursquos Prahar Janshakti Party reported IANSBJP issues whip as alliance strength touches 26BJP corporator Ravi Thakur has been appointed group leader and a whip has been issued directing all alliance members to vote as per the BJPrsquos instructionsWith this combination the ruling alliance commands the support of 25 councillors plus the President taking its effective strength to 26 in the 33member house The Congress 6 and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 2 will sit in the oppositionAkot Municipal Council Partywise seat tallyThe final tally of the 33 elected seats in Akot is BJP 11 Congress 6 AIMIM 5 Prahar Janshakti Party 3 Shiv Sena UBT 2 NCP Ajit Pawar 2 Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 2 Shiv Sena Shinde 1 and NCP Sharad Pawar 1 reported IANSlsquoBatenge toh Katengersquo slogan sparks criticismThe Akot alliance has sparked controversy particularly in light of the BJPrsquos recent highdecibel ldquoBatenge toh Katengerdquo campaign during the Assembly elections with critics pointing to the contradiction between the slogan and the partyrsquos tieup with the AIMIMBJPCongress understanding in Ambernath shocks Shiv SenaA similar display of political pragmatism unfolded in Thane districtrsquos Ambernath Municipal Council In a setback for its statelevel ally the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena the BJP entered into an understanding with the Indian National Congress to secure control of the civic bodyAmbernath numbers BJP stitches majority with Congress supportIn the 60member Ambernath council the Shiv Sena Shinde faction emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats followed by the BJP 14 Congress 12 NCP Ajit Pawar 4 and three independentsBy aligning with the Congress the NCP and two independents the BJP stitched together a working majority of 32 seats captured the Presidentrsquos post and relegated the Shinde faction to the opposition The Shiv Sena even with the support of one independent was left with 28 seatslsquoCongressmukt Bharatrsquo pitch jars with local compulsionsDespite the BJPrsquos national pitch for a ldquoCongressmukt Bharatrdquo the partyrsquos local unit has leaned on Congress support to retain power triggering visible discomfort within the Mahayuti allianceFocus shifts to ground impact of lsquounnaturalrsquo alliancesAttention is now focused on how these politically ldquounnaturalrdquo alliances play out on the ground mdash and how the BJP leadership reconciles local political compulsions with its broader ideological messagingWith inputs from PTI and IANS