Congress Suspends Ambernath Leaders After Local Tie-Up With BJP Without Permission

Mumbai: The Congress party has taken strict action against its local leaders in Ambernath after they supported a political arrangement with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) without taking approval from the state leadership. The decision has created a major stir in Maharashtra’s civic politics.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has suspended Pradeep Patil, the Ambernath block president of the Congress, along with other local office-bearers and corporators. The party has also dissolved the Ambernath Congress block committee with immediate effect.

According to Congress leaders, Pradeep Patil and several Congress corporators extended support to the BJP in the Ambernath Municipal Council after the elections. This move was taken without informing or consulting senior Congress leaders at the state level, which the party described as a serious violation of discipline.

In the Ambernath Municipal Council elections, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party. The BJP won fewer seats but managed to play a key role in post-election power talks. When Congress corporators reportedly backed the BJP during these negotiations, it triggered strong reactions within the Congress.

Senior Congress leaders said that Congress corporators were elected on the party symbol and had a responsibility to follow party policy. They made it clear that local leaders cannot make independent political decisions that go against the party’s stand at the state and national level.

The Congress leadership stated that the unauthorized tie-up damaged the party’s image and confused party workers and voters. As a result, disciplinary action was unavoidable. Party sources said the suspensions were meant to send a clear message that indiscipline will not be tolerated.

On the other hand, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also publicly stated that such alliances are unacceptable and that steps will be taken to reverse them. “Alliance with Congress in any form is wrong. I will be asking questions to my workers,” he said.