Indian politics is no stranger to surprising alliances, but even by those standards, recent developments in Maharashtra have left many stunned. Reports of a post-poll alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in a municipal body in Ambernath have triggered disbelief, sharp political reactions, and swift disciplinary action. What appeared, at first glance, to be an unthinkable political handshake has now opened up a larger debate about local compulsions, central party discipline, and the increasingly fluid nature of municipal politics in the state.

The shock announcement from Ambernath

The political tremors began after local leaders of the BJP and Congress in Ambernath, a city in Thane district, reportedly announced a post-election alliance to run the municipal council. The news spread rapidly, with social media platforms lighting up in disbelief. For decades, the BJP and Congress have been bitter rivals at the national and state levels, representing sharply contrasting ideologies. The idea that they could join hands, even at the local level, was enough to cause shockwaves well beyond Maharashtra.

However, it soon became clear that the announcement was not sanctioned by the top leadership of either party. Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis publicly expressed strong displeasure, making it clear that such alliances were unacceptable. The Congress leadership followed suit, moving swiftly to discipline its local representatives involved in the tie-up.

What actually happened in Ambernath?

To understand the controversy, it is essential to look at the arithmetic and political dynamics of the Ambernath Municipal Council. Elections were held for the 60-member civic body, with vote counting completed on December 20.

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats, falling just four short of the majority mark of 31. The BJP secured 14 seats, the Congress won 12, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) bagged four, and two seats went to independents.

Despite Shiv Sena being the largest party, a post-poll understanding reportedly emerged between the BJP, Congress, and NCP, giving them a combined strength of 31 councillors. This arrangement effectively sidelined the Shiv Sena and allowed the alliance partners to claim control of the council.

According to local BJP leaders, the decision was driven by a desire to weaken the Shiv Sena’s hold over Ambernath and to “free the city from corruption and intimidation.” BJP councillor Abhijit Karanjule Patil, who was appointed group leader, told the media that the alliance was formed in the interest of better governance. However, these justifications did little to calm the political storm that followed.

Party leaderships step in

The reaction from the BJP’s top leadership was swift and unequivocal. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly rejected any alliance with the Congress or the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), calling such arrangements unacceptable and a violation of party discipline.

“I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or AIMIM will not be accepted,” Fadnavis said, warning that action would be taken against any local leader who had entered into such agreements without approval. He added that instructions had already been issued to scrap these alliances.

The Congress, too, moved quickly to distance itself from the development. The party suspended all 12 of its newly elected councillors in the Ambernath Municipal Council, along with the Ambernath block president Pradip Patil. The suspension order was issued by Maharashtra Congress senior vice president Ganesh Patil, signalling that the party leadership viewed the alliance as a serious breach of discipline.

A pattern beyond Ambernath?

What made the situation even more intriguing was that Ambernath was not an isolated case. Around the same time, reports emerged of another unconventional political arrangement in Akot, a town in Akola district. There, the BJP was said to have joined hands with the AIMIM and other parties under a banner called the “Akot Vikas Manch.”

In the 35-member Akot Municipal Council, the BJP won 11 seats, while the AIMIM secured two. With support from other parties, the alliance’s strength reportedly rose to 25, comfortably above the majority mark. The grouping was formally registered with the district administration ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections scheduled for January 13.

What raised eyebrows further was the reported support of multiple parties for this front, including factions of the Shiv Sena, the NCP, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), and Bachchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party. Meanwhile, the Congress, which won six seats, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, with two seats, chose to remain in the Opposition.

AIMIM’s rejection and internal contradictions

The Akot alliance, however, quickly ran into controversy. BJP leaders in Akola claimed that several AIMIM councillors had effectively distanced themselves from their party to support the new front. BJP MLA Randhir Savarkar asserted that four out of five AIMIM councillors in Akot had rejected what he described as the party’s “hardline and communal stance.”

These claims were firmly rebutted by AIMIM leaders. Former MP and senior AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel said that party chief Asaduddin Owaisi had made it clear that AIMIM would not have any association with the BJP. The contradictory statements only added to the confusion and reinforced the perception that local political manoeuvring was running far ahead of central party control.

Why do such alliances happen?

At the heart of these developments lies a familiar reality of Indian municipal politics: local power equations often trump ideological purity. Civic bodies control budgets, contracts, and day-to-day governance issues that directly affect local leaders’ influence. When election results produce fractured mandates, the temptation to form opportunistic post-poll alliances can be strong.

In Ambernath, the primary objective for local BJP and Congress leaders appears to have been preventing the Shiv Sena from controlling the council, even if that meant setting aside decades of rivalry. Similarly, in Akot, the formation of a broad “development front” suggests a focus on numerical strength rather than ideological alignment.

However, while such pragmatism may make sense locally, it often clashes with the national narratives and political positioning of major parties, particularly the BJP and Congress, whose rivalry is foundational to contemporary Indian politics.

What it means for Maharashtra politics

The swift rejection of these alliances by the BJP and Congress leaderships underlines a key point: while local leaders may experiment with unconventional arrangements, centralised party structures still seek to enforce ideological boundaries, especially when public perception and political messaging are at stake.

For the BJP, any alliance with the Congress or AIMIM undermines its long-standing political positioning. For the Congress, partnering with the BJP risks confusing its support base and weakening its national opposition narrative.

At the same time, these episodes highlight the growing complexity of Maharashtra’s political landscape, where multiple parties, factions, and alliances coexist, often shifting depending on context and convenience.

The bigger picture

Have the BJP and Congress really made the impossible possible? In a formal sense, no. Both parties have categorically rejected any alliance with each other and have taken disciplinary action against those who attempted such arrangements at the local level.

Yet, the very fact that such alliances were announced, even briefly, underscores a deeper truth about Indian politics today. Ideological lines, while firm at the top, can blur at the grassroots when power, survival, and local rivalries come into play.

As Maharashtra heads into another politically charged period, these developments serve as a reminder that beneath the grand narratives of national politics lies a far messier, more pragmatic reality — one where “impossible” alliances can momentarily seem possible, until party high commands step in to redraw the lines.