AMBERNATH: In a new twist to the political drama in Ambernath municipal council, a day after 12 suspended Congress councilors joined the BJP, all four councilors of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP withdrew their support for the BJP-led front and extended it to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. This means that Sena, which had become the largest single party with 27 seats, now has the support of 32 councilors (one supporter is an independent), which corresponds to a majority in the 60-member council. The latest move is a setback to the BJP’s attempt to gain a majority with 15 councilors by first securing the support of 12 Congress and 4 NCP councilors and then absorbing the suspended Congress councilors into its own ranks.
The BJP had won the direct election to the council president but will now be forced to share power with Shiv Sena as key posts like deputy president and local committee chairman posts are likely to go to Sena and NCP, political observers said. In last month’s elections, Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP contested separately. Traditionally a Shiv Sena stronghold, Ambernath is also considered a bastion of Shiv Sena LS MP Shrikant Shinde, son of deputy CM Eknath Shinde. To retain control of the civic body, the BJP had brought together 12 Congress councillors, four from the NCP and one independent, and formed the 32-member Ambernath Vikas Aghadi. The group was officially registered with Thane Collector. However, the BJP faced criticism for aligning itself with the Congress and the latter subsequently suspended its councilors, leading to all twelve officially joining the saffron group. However, Shinde Junior is said to have turned the tables on the BJP by securing the support of the four NCP councilors and an independent MP. Two independents were elected to the council; the other is with the BJP-led group. Sena MLA Balaji Kinikar confirmed Friday’s developments. A BJP politician, requesting anonymity, said the four NCP councilors have officially joined the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi and the group has been recognized by the Thane collector. This, he said, raises the question whether the NCP councilors can support Sena. Observers said the changing political equations have altered the balance of power on the council but may also have opened the door to possible legal and political challenges in the coming days.
