India, Jan. 8 -- Twelve newly elected councillors of the Ambernath Municipal Council, who were suspended by the Congress for aligning with the BJP after the civic polls, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party late Wednesday night, triggering a major political realignment in the Thane district municipality.

The development was announced by Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan at the party office, where he said the move was driven by a shared commitment to development rather than a quest for power. "The people elected these councillors with the expectation of development. They believe the BJP-led government is capable of delivering justice and growth," Chavan said.

The defections follow the December 20 civic polls, after which th...