MUMBAI: The Congress on Wednesday suspended 12 newly elected councillors of the Ambernath Municipal Council in Maharashtra along with the party’s local block president after they joined hands with the BJP following last month’s civic elections.
The action came after a post-poll arrangement in Ambernath town of Thane district saw the BJP, Congress councillors and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP coming together to form a majority in the 60-member civic body. The grouping secured the support of 31 councillors, even though the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats.
Amid growing controversy over the unexpected alignment between rival parties, the Congress leadership moved swiftly to discipline its cadre. The party suspended Ambernath block president Pradip Patil and dissolved the local block unit. In an official communication, the Maharashtra Congress stated that all councillors elected on the party symbol had been suspended for acting without the knowledge or approval of the state leadership.
The party clarified that the decision to participate in the local power arrangement was taken independently by the councillors concerned and violated organisational discipline. The Congress reiterated that it had not authorised any formal alliance with the BJP at the municipal level.
Responding to the developments, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that several councillors, including independents, had come together under the banner of the Ambernath Development Front by setting aside party identities to counter what he described as corruption at the local level. However, he emphasised that the front was formed without official permission, prompting the issuance of show-cause notices and subsequent suspensions.
According to party sources, the Ambernath Development Front was formed on December 31 after a meeting at a local BJP office. The group later informed the Thane district collector about the formation of the alliance ahead of leadership selection in the council.
In the civic polls held on December 20, the Shiv Sena won 27 seats, missing a majority by four. The BJP secured 14 seats, the Congress 12, the NCP four, while two independents were also elected. The episode has further fuelled political tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance and sharpened debates over coalition ethics at the local level.
