Despite the displeasure of the top leadership, BJP, AIMIM and Congress have coordinated among themselves to ensure unopposed election of chairpersons of various committees in Achalpur Municipal Council in Maharashtra’s Amravati district. This development has come to light at a time when, just a few days ago, BJP had formed an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and Congress in the local bodies of Akot and Ambernath respectively.

Recently, in the local body elections held in Achalpur, Congress won 15 seats in the 41-member Municipal Council, while BJP got 9, AIMIM got 3, Independents got 10, Prahar Janshakti Party got two and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) got two seats.

AIMIM councilor elected chairman of education and sports committee

Following this coordination, an AIMIM councilor was elected unopposed as the chairman of the Education and Sports Committee. Similarly, a Congress member was made the chairman of the Water Supply Committee, while a BJP councilor was given the charge of the Women and Child Welfare Committee. BJP MLA from Achalpur Praveen Tayade told the media that he was not taken into confidence for this coordination.

Our party works on the ideology of Hindutva – Praveen Tayade

He told that in the local body elections, he was given the responsibility of only ward number one. On the question asked about the coordination between BJP and AIMIM, Tayade said, “I am an MLA with Hindutva ideology and our party also works on the ideology of Hindutva, so I can never do this. However, whatever decision the senior leaders of the party take in this matter, we will accept it.”

AIMIM-BJP alliance was also formed in Akot Municipal Council

After the recent local body elections in the state, BJP had formed an alliance with AIMIM in Akot Municipal Council of Akola district but it was ended after the rebuke by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. At the same time, BJP and Congress joined hands to keep Shiv Sena away from power in Ambernath Municipal Council. Following this move, Congress suspended all its 12 councilors, although they later joined BJP.