Political equations in Ambernath have changed sharply after four councillors from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) decided to extend support to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the municipal council. The move has altered the balance of power in the 60-member civic body and delivered a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

With the fresh support, Shiv Sena’s strength has effectively crossed the majority mark. The party, which has 27 elected councillors, now enjoys the backing of four NCP members and one independent councillor, taking its total support to 32—enough to control the council.

The shift comes amid confusion and discontent over local alliance talks. Reports had earlier suggested that the BJP was exploring a possible understanding with the Congress in Ambernath to prevent Shiv Sena from taking charge. However, those reports triggered strong reactions and were later denied. The uncertainty appears to have pushed the NCP’s local leadership to take a clear position.

 NCP councillors in Ambernath were strongly opposed to working alongside the Congress, citing long-standing political rivalry at the local level. They reportedly conveyed to party leaders that aligning with the Congress would be unacceptable, as both parties have been rivals in the town for several years. Following these objections, the NCP leadership decided to support the Shiv Sena instead.

The current composition of the Ambernath Municipal Council stands as follows: Shiv Sena with 27 councillors, BJP with 14, Congress with 12, NCP with four, and two independents. With the latest development, the BJP has been pushed to the margins despite being part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance at the state level.

Interestingly, while the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP are partners in the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, they contested the Ambernath municipal elections separately. The latest realignment highlights how local political dynamics often override state-level partnerships.