In a surprising political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) have come together to openly share power in the Akot municipal council in Maharashtra. The unexpected alliance was forged after the BJP failed to secure an outright majority in the civic body, marking a dramatic political twist in a state often referred to as the land of Bollywood.
For several years, AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has faced persistent accusations from opposition parties that it indirectly aids the BJP by splitting minority votes, earning it the controversial label of being the BJP’s “B team.” Until now, such allegations were largely based on perceived electoral outcomes and indirect support. However, in Akot of Akola district, this association has moved from insinuation to open political collaboration. The BJP and AIMIM have formally joined hands to run the Akot municipal council, effectively sidelining the Indian National Congress, which now finds itself in the opposition.
The political realignment unfolded on Tuesday following the results of the Akot municipal elections. In the 35-member council, the BJP emerged as the single largest party but managed to win only 11 seats, falling well short of the majority required to govern independently. The Congress secured six seats to become the second-largest party, while AIMIM finished third with five seats, placing the BJP in a position where it had to seek partners to form a stable governing coalition.
What followed next took many political observers by surprise. The BJP stitched together a broad-based coalition under the banner of the “Akot Vikas Manch,” bringing AIMIM into the fold along with Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, the Nationalist Congress Party faction headed by Ajit Pawar, and Prahar Janshakti Party led by Bachchu Kadu.
With this combination, the BJP-led alliance secured the backing of 25 councillors, comfortably crossing the majority threshold. As part of the power-sharing arrangement, BJP leader Maya Dhule was elected mayor of Akot. The Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar have been relegated to the opposition benches. The Akot Vikas Manch has also been formally registered with the district administration, giving the coalition official status.
The alliance between the BJP and AIMIM—two parties often portrayed as ideological opposites—has given fresh ammunition to opposition leaders who have long alleged a behind-the-scenes understanding between the two. Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the BJP and AIMIM of engaging in both open and covert alliances across Maharashtra. He alleged that the BJP’s actions reflected political opportunism rather than ideological consistency.
Raut pointed out that the BJP has not hesitated to align with different parties in different regions to retain power, noting that while it has partnered with AIMIM in Akot, it has reportedly worked with the Congress in Ambernath. He questioned how such alliances square with the BJP’s long-standing rhetoric of pursuing a “Congress-free India.”
The BJP, however, has defended its decision, arguing that the arrangement in Akot is purely a local-level understanding aimed at ensuring stable governance and smooth administration in the municipal council, rather than an ideological partnership.
The controversy has also revived the long-running debate over whether AIMIM functions as the BJP’s “B team.” Since AIMIM’s expansion beyond its traditional strongholds, parties such as the Congress and the All India Trinamool Congress have accused it of fragmenting minority votes in key elections, indirectly benefiting the BJP. This charge has surfaced repeatedly, including during recent elections in Bihar and West Bengal.
In Bihar, AIMIM retained all five seats it had previously won in the Seemanchal region, an area with a significant Muslim population, and even increased its overall vote share. Critics argued that these gains came at the expense of the Mahagathbandhan, which was ultimately defeated by the BJP–JD(U) alliance. The BJP’s open alliance with AIMIM in Maharashtra has now further strengthened the opposition’s narrative.
Adding to the sense of political unpredictability, Maharashtra has also witnessed another unlikely arrangement in Ambernath, where the Congress and the BJP reportedly joined forces to keep the Sena out of power in the municipal council. Together, these developments underscore how local politics can often produce unexpected alliances that defy traditional ideological boundaries.
