Fadnavis Rejects Congress, AIMIM Tie-Ups, Warns BJP Leaders of Strict Action

Devendra Fadnavis has issued a strong warning to Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Maharashtra over reports of unauthorised political arrangements with rival parties, including the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), in local civic bodies. Calling such moves “unacceptable,” Fadnavis made it clear that the BJP’s senior leadership has not approved any such alliances and that they amount to a serious breach of party discipline.

Reacting to reports of post-election tie-ups in municipal councils, Fadnavis stated that any local leader who independently decides to collaborate with ideological opponents is acting against the party’s organisational framework. He emphasised that the BJP has a clearly defined political stance, and deviations at the local level undermine both discipline and credibility.

Fadnavis further revealed that instructions have already been issued to reverse such arrangements wherever they may have been formed. He warned that disciplinary action would follow if party leaders fail to comply. The statement comes amid growing political buzz over unexpected alignments in certain civic bodies following recent municipal elections in Maharashtra.

Reports suggested that in Ambernath, BJP leaders joined hands with the Congress and factions of the Nationalist Congress Party to form the municipal council leadership under the banner of “Ambernath Vikas Aghadi.” This development drew sharp reactions as it appeared to sideline the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which is a key ally of the BJP at the state level.

A similar political realignment was reported in Akot Municipal Council in Akola district, where BJP leaders were said to have formed an alliance with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and other parties to secure control of the local body. These developments sparked controversy, given the BJP’s long-standing opposition to both the Congress and AIMIM at the national and state levels.

Amid the controversy, the Indian National Congress issued a clarification denying the existence of a formal alliance with the BJP in Ambernath. Congress leader Sachin Sawant stated that the political grouping in question was not a BJP-Congress arrangement but a broader platform involving leaders from multiple parties and independent representatives.

According to the clarification, the grouping was formed to oppose alleged corruption at the local level and was not driven by party symbols or official alliances. The Congress maintained that reports portraying the development as a direct tie-up between the two rival parties were misleading.

The reports nevertheless triggered sharp reactions within the Shiv Sena, particularly from leaders aligned with the Shinde faction. A senior MLA from the camp described the arrangement as an “unholy alliance” and accused the BJP of political betrayal. He alleged that the party’s actions contradicted its long-standing political messaging and harmed trust among allies.

The episode highlights growing tensions within Maharashtra’s complex political landscape, especially in the aftermath of closely fought civic elections. With Fadnavis drawing a firm line, the BJP appears keen to reassert centralised control and prevent local-level experiments that could weaken its ideological positioning and alliance dynamics in the state.