New twist to Ambernath tale: NCP dumps BJP, backs Sena

AMBERNATH: In a caller twist to the governmental play successful the Ambernath municipal council, a time aft 12 suspended Congress councillors joined BJP, each 4 councillors from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP withdrew their enactment to the BJP-led beforehand and extended it to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

With this, Sena, which had emerged the single-largest enactment by winning 27 seats, present has the enactment of 32 councillors (one backer is an independent), a bulk successful the 60-member council. The latest determination is simply a setback to an effort by BJP, with 15 councillors, to summation a bulk by archetypal securing the enactment of 12 Congress and 4 NCP councillors and past taking the suspended Congress councillors into its ain fold.

BJP had won the nonstop predetermination to the station of assembly president but volition present beryllium compelled to stock powerfulness with Shiv Sena arsenic cardinal positions specified arsenic that of lawman president and posts of chairpersons of section committees are expected to spell to Sena and NCP, governmental observers said. The elections held past period saw Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP contention separately. Ambernath has traditionally been a Shiv Sena stronghold and is besides considered the bastion of Shiv Sena LS MP Shrikant Shinde, lad of lawman CM Eknath Shinde. To support power of the civic body, BJP had brought unneurotic 12 Congress councillors, 4 from NCP, and 1 independent, forming the 32-member Ambernath Vikas Aghadi. The radical was formally registered with Thane collector.

However, BJP faced disapproval for aligning with Congress, and the second subsequently suspended its councillors, starring each 12 to formally articulation the saffron outfit. However, Shinde Junior is said to person turned the tables connected BJP by securing the enactment of the 4 NCP councillors positive 1 independent. Two independents were elected to the council; the different is with the BJP-led group. Sena MLA Balaji Kinikar confirmed Friday's developments. A BJP person who spoke connected information of anonymity said that the 4 NCP councillors had formally joined the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, and the radical was recognised by the Thane collector. This, helium said, raises questions implicit whether the NCP councillors tin widen enactment to Sena. Observers said the changing governmental equations person altered the equilibrium of powerfulness successful the assembly but whitethorn person besides opened the doorway to imaginable ineligible and governmental challenges successful the days ahead.