Amravati: Maharashtra’s political landscape has witnessed a significant shake-up following the recent municipal elections, as the BJP, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and Congress formed an unexpected alliance in the Achalpur Municipal Council. This alliance aims to elect committee chairpersons uncontested, despite disapproval from BJP’s central leadership.
This development comes shortly after similar collaborations by the BJP in Akot and Ambernath local bodies. In Achalpur, Congress emerged as the largest party in the municipal elections, prompting the tripartite arrangement.
Election Results in Achalpur
The 41-member Achalpur Municipal Council saw Congress winning 15 seats, BJP nine, AIMIM three, Independents ten, Prahar Janshakti Party two, and NCP two. Following the alliance, an AIMIM councillor was unanimously elected as chairman of the Education and Sports Committee. Congress secured the Chair of the Water Supply Committee, while a BJP councillor was given charge of the Women and Child Welfare Committee.
BJP MLA Expresses Discontent
BJP MLA from Achalpur, Praveen Tayade, expressed dissatisfaction over the alliance, stating that he was not consulted. “In the municipal elections, I was only responsible for Ward No. 1. I follow the Hindutva ideology, and our party also works on the same principles, so I personally cannot support this,” Tayade told the media. He added that he would, however, abide by decisions taken by senior party leaders.
Past Experiments in Akot and Ambernath
Earlier, the BJP had attempted a similar alliance with AIMIM in Akot Municipal Council, Akola district. However, the collaboration was terminated after a warning from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In Ambernath, BJP and Congress joined hands to prevent Shiv Sena from coming to power, leading to the suspension of all 12 Congress councillors at the time—who later joined the BJP.
The Achalpur alliance marks another chapter in Maharashtra’s evolving local political equations, demonstrating pragmatic alliances that cross traditional party lines.