Kumar Bahukhandi
BJP and Shiv Sena clash over the Ambernath Municipal Council vice-president election (Photo-ITG)
Amidst uproar in the Ambernath Municipal Council, Sadashiv Patil was elected vice-president. Four NCP corporators defied their party’s whip and sided with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). The BJP has declared the election illegal and announced that it will approach the court.
The election for the Vice President’s post in the Ambernath Municipal Council in Maharashtra’s Thane district sent political tensions soaring on Saturday. The delicate balance of power, the issuance of whips, questions of legitimacy, and the ensuing chaos both on the streets and within the council chambers transformed this election into a major political event.
Just before the elections, four corporators from the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) were issued a strict whip by the party’s group leader, Abhijit Karanjule. The whip warned that if any corporator voted against the party line and opposed the BJP candidate, their membership could be revoked.
Despite this, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), with the support of these four NCP corporators, crossed the majority mark and elected Sadashiv alias ‘Sada Mama’ Patil as the Vice Chairman of the Ambernath Municipal Council. The election process was completed through voting by all the elected corporators.
Following these developments, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned the validity of the election process. BJP leaders alleged that the entire process was conducted against the rules and that the party would challenge it in court.
In fact, the four NCP corporators who sided with the Shinde faction were previously part of the ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’. This alliance was formed with the support of 31 members, including the BJP (14), Congress (12), NCP (4), one independent, and the mayor, and was officially registered with the District Collector’s office. Therefore, their sudden defection from this front to join the Shinde faction has now become a subject of legal debate.
The membership of the four corporators is at risk.
Group leader Abhijit Karanjule clearly stated that the membership of the four corporators could be revoked for violating the whip. The deadline for nominations for the Vice President post was 1 PM, while voting began at 2:30 PM. The administration had clarified that only elected corporators would be allowed entry into the council building during the election process, and nominated corporators would not be able to vote.
There was considerable commotion in the Municipal Council Hall during the election. Slogans were raised against Sadashiv Patil, and the atmosphere became even more tense after a woman threw a slipper. BJP and Shiv Sena workers clashed, and the police had to intervene to control the situation.
Intense sloganeering ensued.
In the voting, the Shiv Sena Mahayuti Vikas Aghadi received 32 votes, while the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi received 28 votes. Following this, Sadashiv (Sada Mama) Patil was formally declared the Vice President.
After the results, Congress supporters raised slogans like “Thief Mama, Traitor Mama” in the hall. As soon as MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde arrived at the auditorium, a heated exchange of slogans erupted once again between BJP and Shiv Sena workers. Now, the entire political landscape is focused on what legal and political turns this power equation in the Ambernath Municipal Council will take next.
