Power Over Ideology? Ambernath and Akot Alliances Expose Cracks in Maharashtra’s Local Politics

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s political parties are facing uncomfortable questions after unexpected local-level alliances in Ambernath and Akot threw state leaderships into damage-control mode, highlighting a growing gap between ideology at the top and power politics on the ground.

In Ambernath (Thane district), both the BJP and Congress found themselves embarrassed after their local units joined hands to form the municipal council. The move immediately drew criticism from senior leaders, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calling it a clear breach of party discipline. He stressed that no alliance with the Congress or AIMIM had approval from the BJP’s state leadership and warned that unilateral decisions would invite action.

The Congress moved swiftly to contain the fallout. The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) suspended 12 councillors involved in the Ambernath arrangement and dissolved the local block committee, signalling zero tolerance for decisions taken without clearance from the state command.

The situation became even more politically sensitive because the alliance in Ambernath pushed the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena out of power in the civic body. Leaders from Shinde’s camp described the development as a violation of coalition trust, accusing the BJP of prioritising numbers over alliance commitments.

While the Ambernath controversy was still unfolding, another alliance shocked political observers in Akot (Akola district). There, the BJP’s local unit joined hands with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, along with factions of the Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the Prahar Janshakti Party, to form the Akot Vikas Manch and take control of the municipal body.

The Akot development triggered immediate action from the BJP’s state unit. A show-cause notice was issued to local MLA Prakash Bharsakhle, with BJP state president Ravindra Chavan accusing him of undermining party ideology by associating with AIMIM. The BJP leadership reiterated that such alliances were unacceptable and contrary to the party’s stated political position.

Opposition parties seized the opportunity to attack the BJP. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the developments in Ambernath and Akot exposed the BJP’s “double standards,” alleging that the party was willing to abandon ideological positions whenever power was at stake. He argued that the alliances directly contradicted the BJP’s public narrative and ideological claims.

Meanwhile, confusion continued in Akot over AIMIM’s role. BJP leaders claimed that most AIMIM councillors had distanced themselves from their party before joining the new civic front. However, former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel rejected any formal tie-up with the BJP, stating that AIMIM’s political line remains firmly opposed to the saffron party and that he had sought an immediate report from party leaders in Akot.

As Maharashtra heads into elections for 29 municipal corporations, these episodes underline a deeper political reality: local power equations are increasingly shaped by arithmetic rather than ideology.