07 January,2026 05:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal. File pic
The controversy between the BJP and Congress has intensified hours after both parties announced an alliance for two municipal corporations in Maharashtra. With just a few days ahead of the civic polls, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has suspended Pradeep Patil, block president of the Ambernath Congress, for allegedly entering into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) without the consent of the party's state leadership.
In a major disciplinary action ahead of key political developments in Maharashtra, the Vice President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Ganesh Patil, on Wednesday wrote a formal letter to the block president of the Ambernath Congress.
While writing a letter, Congress Vice President Ganesh Patil mentioned that the Congress had contested the recent elections on its party symbol and secured 12 seats, reflecting the trust reposed by voters in the party's ideology and leadership.
The Maharashtra Vice President further alleged that despite this mandate, Pradeep Patil entered into an alliance with the BJP without informing the state leadership or the Congress state office.
Ganesh Patil also noted that the development came to the notice of the party leadership through media reports, calling the move inappropriate and against party discipline.
He wrote, "This is not a good thing," the letter reads, expressing strong displeasure over the manner in which the decision was taken.
Citing instructions from Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, Ganesh Patil, through the official's formal letter, asserted that Pradeep Patil is being suspended from the party with immediate effect.
The letter further underlined that any political alliance or understanding must be approved by the party's state leadership, and unilateral decisions would not be tolerated.
Apart from Congress, BJP has entered into post-poll alliances with AIMIM as well in some municipal councils across Maharashtra. However, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tie-ups and warned of action against party leaders involved.
CM Fadnavis made it clear that such arrangements were not approved by the party's senior leadership and violated organisational discipline.
CM Fadnavis, while talking to the media, said, "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," as cited by PTI.
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