Aras was expelled from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party last week for attending a rally of members of World War Two Home Guard units where Ustasha insignia were displayed.
Aras said he had been expelled from the party "Stalin style", because he was not given a chance to state his opinion. He said he would offer his former party cooperation in the City Council provided that the photograph of General Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague war crimes tribunal, was put back in the City Hall.