07 January,2026 01:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Maharashtra civic elections 2026 continue to throw up politically unlikely alliances. After partnering with its traditional rival Congress to wrest control of the Ambernath Municipal Council from the Shiv Sena, the BJP has now stitched together an equally surprising alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, in Akot to secure control of the Municipal Council there.
The BJP has entered into post-poll alliances with rivals Congress and AIMIM in some municipal councils in Maharashtra, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tie-ups and warned of action against party leaders involved.
CM Fadnavis, however, made it clear that such arrangements were not approved by the party's senior leadership and violated organisational discipline, reported PTI.
"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, adding that instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances, reported PTI.
In Akot, BJP's Maya Dhule was elected President despite the party falling well short of a majority in the 35-member council. Of the 33 seats contested last month, the BJP won just 11. To bridge the gap, the party floated a new front - the Akot Vikas Manch - to consolidate numbers, reported IANS.
In a move that has raised eyebrows across political circles, the AIMIM, which secured five seats and was the BJP's principal rival in the civic contest, joined the BJP-led alliance.
The front also includes both factions of the Shiv Sena (Shinde and UBT), both factions of the NCP (Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar), and Bacchu Kadu's Prahar Janshakti Party, reported IANS.
BJP corporator Ravi Thakur has been appointed group leader, and a whip has been issued directing all alliance members to vote as per the BJP's instructions.
With this combination, the ruling alliance commands the support of 25 councillors, plus the President, taking its effective strength to 26 in the 33-member house. The Congress (6) and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (2) will sit in the opposition.
The final tally of the 33 elected seats in Akot is: BJP 11, Congress 6, AIMIM 5, Prahar Janshakti Party 3, Shiv Sena (UBT) 2, NCP (Ajit Pawar) 2, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 2, Shiv Sena (Shinde) 1 and NCP (Sharad Pawar) 1, reported IANS.
The Akot alliance has sparked controversy, particularly in light of the BJP's recent high-decibel "Batenge toh Katenge" campaign during the Assembly elections, with critics pointing to the contradiction between the slogan and the party's tie-up with the AIMIM.
A similar display of political pragmatism unfolded in Thane district's Ambernath Municipal Council. In a setback for its state-level ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the BJP entered into an understanding with the Indian National Congress to secure control of the civic body.
In the 60-member Ambernath council, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, followed by the BJP (14), Congress (12), NCP (Ajit Pawar) (4) and three independents.
By aligning with the Congress, the NCP and two independents, the BJP stitched together a working majority of 32 seats, captured the President's post and relegated the Shinde faction to the opposition. The Shiv Sena, even with the support of one independent, was left with 28 seats.
Despite the BJP's national pitch for a "Congress-mukt Bharat," the party's local unit has leaned on Congress support to retain power, triggering visible discomfort within the Mahayuti alliance.
Attention is now focused on how these politically "unnatural" alliances play out on the ground - and how the BJP leadership reconciles local political compulsions with its broader ideological messaging.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
