12 Suspended Congress Councillors from Ambernath Join BJP in Maharashtra
Ambernath Municipal Council sees major realignment as BJP strengthens its foothold with former Congress members
Maharashtra, Jan 08 : Twelve councillors from the Ambernath Municipal Council, recently suspended by the Congress for aligning with the BJP after local elections, have officially joined the saffron party, further reshaping the political landscape in the Thane district municipality.
Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan announced the development on Wednesday night at the party office, emphasizing that the move was motivated not by power but by a commitment to development. “The people elected these councillors, and they had promised progress to citizens. They have joined us because the government is actively working to deliver justice and development,” Chavan said.
The local elections, held on December 20, saw the BJP form a post-poll alliance with Congress under the banner of the ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ (AVA), sidelining the Shiv Sena, which had emerged as the single largest party. The coalition also includes the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. With 31 seats in a 60-member council, the AVA gained a majority, which increased to 32 with the support of an independent councillor.
The Congress, caught off-guard by the councillors’ switch, suspended all 12 councillors along with its block president. Their move to join the BJP has dramatically altered local political equations, strengthening the BJP-led coalition’s influence in the council.
Chavan noted that the councillors’ decision reflects growing confidence in the BJP-led government. “They believe that only through the BJP can promises made to the people be fulfilled effectively,” he said, stressing that governance and development remain the party’s top priorities at the local level.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has criticized the development as a breach of “coalition dharma,” arguing that the AVA arrangement was designed to prevent the Eknath Shinde-led party from taking control. Meanwhile, Chavan addressed concerns regarding the BJP’s alliance with AIMIM in Akot, stating that a show-cause notice has been issued to their MLA, Prakash Bharsakhale, and that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that the party will not tolerate violations of discipline.
Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena described these realignments as evidence of the BJP’s double standards and its willingness to forge alliances with ideological rivals to secure power.
