India, Jan. 20 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday disposed of a petition filed by the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi (AVA), challenging the order passed by the Thane collector on January 9, recognising the alliance between the Shiv Sena and four members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as a "pre-poll alliance" and de-recognising the AVA alliance in the civic body elections.

Calling the switching of sides by the NCP "globetrotting", a division bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Abhay Mantri has directed the collector to grant the parties - the BJP, Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena - a hearing and pass a reasoned order within 21 days.

The impasse arose after the December 2, 2025 elections. The council consists of 60 seats, including 59...