According to a party statement, several aspirants who were denied BJP tickets switched allegiance to rival parties and filed nominations against official BJP candidates
The expulsion orders were issued by the city unit president, Amarnath Rajurkar. Representational Pic/File
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled 22 members in Nanded for anti-party activities ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections scheduled for January 15, 2026, reported the PTI.
According to a party statement, several aspirants who were denied BJP tickets switched allegiance to rival parties and filed nominations against official BJP candidates.
Some members campaigned for rivals
The statement added that some of the expelled members were also found actively campaigning for opposing contestants, further undermining party unity, as per the PTI.
The expulsion orders were issued by the city unit president, Amarnath Rajurkar.
Ticket aspirants prompt action
The BJP reportedly received a large number of applications from aspirants seeking party tickets for the civic elections. Many applicants waited until the final stages for the party’s decision, and several disgruntled aspirants joined other political outfits. In response, the BJP initiated disciplinary action to safeguard party interests ahead of the polls, according to the PTI.
Congress to seek disqualification of 12 Ambernath councillors who joined BJP
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress had earlier this month 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, reported the PTI.
The Congress had described the move as illegal and unconstitutional,
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant had 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 had 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.
(with PTI inputs)
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