Bombay High Court Freezes NCP's Political 'Globe-Trotting' in Ambernath

The Bombay High Court has halted the Thane collector's decisions on political alliances in the Ambernath Municipal Council, where NCP members frequently switched affiliations. A court hearing is ordered for parties involved, delaying the collector's latest orders to allow appeals.

The Bombay High Court on Monday intervened in the complex political maneuvering within Ambernath's Municipal Council, describing the frequent re-alignments of NCP members as 'globe-trotting'. The court's decision temporarily halts the Thane district collector's recognition and derecognition of alliances.

Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri instructed the collector to convene a hearing with all involved parties—BJP, Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena—before proceeding further. This ruling came after NCP members shifted alliances between the BJP-Congress and Shiv Sena, complicating the outcome of the recent municipal council elections.

The judicial intervention came in response to a petition challenging the collector's January orders. It demands that parties submit written statements by January 28, with a final order expected within 21 days, allowing time for potential appeals before enacting any decisions.

(With inputs from agencies.)