Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that the councillors had violated constitutional provisions by defecting after being elected on party's ticket
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that the councillors had violated constitutional provisions. File Pic
The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday announced that it would initiate legal proceedings to seek the disqualification of 12 councillors in Ambernath who were elected on the party’s symbol but later joined the BJP ahead of Maharashtra local body elections, reported the PTI.
The Congress has described the move as illegal and unconstitutional,
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that the councillors had violated constitutional provisions by defecting after being elected on the party ticket.
“This act is entirely illegal. Forming an independent group or joining another political party after being elected on a party symbol is not only unethical but also unconstitutional,” Sawant said in a statement, according to the PTI.
Congress to move appropriate legal forums
Sawant said that the Congress would move the appropriate legal forums to have the councillors’ memberships cancelled and that legal notices would be issued to all 12 in due course.
Following the local body elections held on 20 December, the BJP joined hands with its traditional rival Congress to form the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi (AVA) to run the Ambernath Municipal Council in Thane district, sidelining its ally Shiv Sena, which had emerged as the single largest party. The AVA also includes the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as per the PTI.
Embarrassed by the politically awkward alliance, the Congress on Wednesday suspended its 12 newly elected councillors along with the party’s block president. Later that night, the suspended councillors formally joined the BJP, significantly strengthening the ruling party’s position in the civic body.
Voters elected the councillors based on the Congress ideology
Sawant said voters had elected the councillors based on the Congress ideology and election symbol, and their decision to switch sides after the polls amounted to a betrayal of the public mandate.
He added that such defections undermine democratic values and erode public trust in the electoral process.
The Congress, he said, maintains that the issue goes beyond politics and involves serious constitutional and legal violations.
The matter will be pursued before the competent authorities in accordance with the law, Sawant said.
Secured a majority of 31 seats
The Ambernath Vikas Aghadi secured a majority of 31 seats in the 60-member municipal council. In the recent elections, Shiv Sena won 27 seats, falling four short of a majority, while the BJP secured 14 seats, Congress 12, NCP 4, and two independents were also elected. With the support of one independent councillor, the coalition’s strength has now risen to 32 members, including the council president, surpassing the majority mark of 30, the news agency reported.
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