‘Power is not everything’, says Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, asks BJP to explain alliances with Congress and AIMIM

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra BJP over its local body poll alliances with the Congress in Ambernath and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Akot, saying the party must explain such decisions.

Reacting to the development, Shinde, the Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan and son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said if the BJP has entered into alliances with the Congress and the AIMIM at the local level, it is a matter for the BJP to answer.

“The media should ask BJP leaders about how and why these alliances were formed. They will be able to give a detailed response,” he said, adding that Shiv Sena has always opposed the Congress ideologically.

Recalling the party’s ideological roots, Shinde said the rebellion led by Eknath Shinde was against such political tendencies and that Balasaheb Thackeray had consistently opposed the Congress throughout his political life.

“If such alliances are happening today, the BJP is better placed to explain them. Our opposition to the Congress was firm and will remain so,” he asserted.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Shinde said Mahayuti exists at the Centre, in the state, and has performed well in municipal elections. “In such a situation, the question is, who are alliances being formed with at the local level? If power is being shared with those whose ideology we fought against, that is something the BJP must answer,” he said, clarifying that he has not been part of any such alliance.

Shinde said the Shiv Sena has recorded the best strike rate in municipal elections, securing the post of municipal president in 64 municipalities across Maharashtra.

“This was possible due to people’s blessings and the trust they have in Eknath Shinde. Even in areas where Shiv Sena was not traditionally strong, we have succeeded. We are confident of an even bigger victory in the upcoming municipal corporation elections,” he said.

In Ambernath, the BJP formed the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi by joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, keeping the Shiv Sena, which has the highest number of corporators (27), out of power.

The alliance comprises 14 BJP corporators, 12 from the Congress, four from the NCP, and one Independent, taking the total to 31, and 32 including the president. BJP leaders have claimed the alliance was formed to ensure a corruption-free and fear-free administration.

Responding to this, Shinde said, “If some people are forming such alliances purely for power, senior leadership must take note. Power is not everything. What matters is how people view these decisions. Aligning again with the very forces against which the movement was launched raises serious questions, and senior leaders must make an appropriate decision.”

In the Akot municipal council in Vidarbha’s Akola district, the BJP established ‘Akot Vikas Manch’ (Akot Development Forum), where it has allied with the AIMIM, which won five seats, the most after the BJP.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday directed the BJP to break its alliances with the Congress and AIMIM in the two municipal councils, saying the tie-ups were “not acceptable”.

Even as the alliance was formed locally, the Congress suspended Ambernath block president Pradip Patil on Wednesday.

Vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Ganesh Patil, wrote to the block president of the Ambarnath Congress, Pradeep Patil.

The letter reads, “We have fought elections on Congress symbol and we won 12 seats, but without informing the state leadership or the state office, you have done alliance with BJP and this has come to our knowledge through media sources. This is not a good thing, so as per instructions by the state president, Harshwardhan, you are being suspended from the party.”