BJP forms alliances with Cong, AIMIM in civic bodies; Fadnavis rejects tie-ups, warns action
Mumbai (PTI): The BJP has entered into post-poll alliances with rivals Congress and AIMIM in some municipal councils in Maharashtra, even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday rejected the tie-ups and warned of action against party leaders involved.
Following the civic elections last month, the BJP joined hands with the Congress, its arch-rival, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the banner of 'Ambernath Vikas Aghadi' to form the Ambernath Municipal Council leadership, sidelining ally Shiv Sena.
The BJP also struck a similar alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and several other parties in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district.
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CM Fadnavis, however, made it clear that such arrangements were not approved by the party's senior leadership and violated organisational discipline.
"I am making it very clear that any alliance with the Congress or the AIMIM will not be accepted. If any local leader has taken such a decision on their own, it is wrong in terms of discipline and action will be taken," Fadnavis told a news channel, adding that instructions had already been issued to undo such alliances.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, however, said, "What happened in Akot and Ambernath shows frivolous behaviour of the BJP. The party can forge an alliance with anyone to grab power."
Notably, BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena are allies in the Mahayuti government in the state.
In Ambernath, the BJP forged a post-poll understanding with the Congress and the NCP, securing a majority of 31 seats, even though the Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 27 councillors.
The three parties have come together, claiming that the move is aimed at “saving the town” and ensuring stable administration. The Shiv Sena, however, slammed the move, calling it “unethical and opportunistic”.
Sena MLA Dr Balaji Kinikar called it a betrayal of "coalition dharma" and contrary to the BJP's national slogan of a "Congress-mukt Bharat".
CM Fadnavi asserted that such alliances would not be acceptable under any circumstances and said action would be initiated against local leaders who defied party directions.
BJP councillor Tejashree Karanjule Patil was elected the Ambernath Municipal Council president, defeating Sena’s Manisha Walekar, and took the oath on Wednesday.
In the December 20 polls to the 60-member civic council, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 27 seats, falling just four short of a majority. The BJP secured 14 seats, Congress 12, NCP 4, while 2 independents were also elected.
With the support of one independent, the three-party coalition’s strength has risen to 32 councillors, crossing the majority mark of 30. The election for the vice-president is due shortly.
BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil, who has been appointed the group leader, told the media that the alliance was formed to free Ambernath from “corruption and intimidation”.
Sena MLA Kinikar, however, claimed that while the BJP speaks of a “Congress-free India”, it has partnered with the party locally only for power.
In Akot, the BJP formed the 'Akot Vikas Manch' with the AIMIM, besides support from the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar's NCP, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Prahar Janshakti Party led by Bachchu Kadu.
The BJP won 11 seats in the 35-member council, with two seats pending election, and the AIMIM secured five seats. With the support of various other parties, the alliance's strength stands at 25.
BJP's Maya Dhule was elected mayor, defeating AIMIM's Firozabi Sikandar Rana. Ravi Thakur of the BJP was appointed group leader, with all allies bound by the party whip.
The alliance was formally registered with the Akola district administration on Wednesday, ahead of deputy mayor and committee elections on January 13.
The Congress, with six seats, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, with two, remained in the Opposition.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
