Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed strong displeasure and warned local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) units against forming alliances with the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for civic elections in the state. Devendra Fadnavis has also ordered the BJP units to end their alliances with the two opposition parties.
The BJP entered into post-poll alliances with rivals, the Congress and the AIMIM, in Ambernath and Akot municipal councils, respectively, in Maharashtra.
“I 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. He said instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances.
In a rare move, the BJP joined hands with the Congress, its arch-rival, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ to form the Ambernath Municipal Council leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena.
The BJP also struck a similar alliance with the AIMIM and several other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district.
Devendra Fadnavis, however, made it clear that such arrangements were not approved by the party’s senior leadership and violated organisational discipline.
Sanjay Raut criticises BJP-Congress alliance
As the BJP formed alliances with the Congress and the AIMIM, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on the saffron party after the local body election.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, 7 January, Sanjay Raut called out the BJP for their “double standards”. He said the BJP had given the slogan of “Congress-free India” but also formed an alliance with the party for civic polls to secure a majority in the Ambernath municipal council.
He also criticised the BJP for being in alliance with Ajit Pawar’s NCP, stating that Ajit Pawar does not believe in Veer Savarkar’s ideology.
Sanjay Raut said, “BJP is a double-standard party. They have made an alliance with AIMIM, and Congress is in Ambernath. Modiji’s slogan is to make Congress-free India, but they are in alliance with Congress. They are double-standard people. Don’t trust them.”
“Now they have an alliance with Ajit Pawar, but he does not believe in the ideology of Veer Savarkar. But he will give knowledge about Savarkar to the Shiv Sena. If you (BJP) love Savarkar so much, then remove him (Ajit Pawar) from the alliance,” he added.
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