Maharashtra Civic Polls: BJP-Congress Shock Alliance in Ambernath; Sena Attacked

• BJP formed an unexpected alliance with Congress in Ambernath Municipal Council, Thane, to secure the Municipal President post, sidelining Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.
• Congress suspended its Ambernath unit president, Pradeep Patil, for the unauthorized alliance with BJP; CM Devendra Fadnavis is reportedly upset.
• Shiv Sena (UBT) criticized BJP's "Congress-mukt Bharat" slogan, highlighting the irony of their alliance with Congress in Ambernath.
• Shiv Sena candidate Haji Salim Qureshi was attacked with a knife in Bandra during campaigning; AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel's car was also attacked in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
• NCP's Nawab Malik asserted their strength in BMC, while Ramdas Athawale commented on Ajit Pawar's stance on allying with BJP.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra civic elections see surprising alliances, internal party conflicts, and campaign violence, reshaping political dynamics.