In a significant political development ahead of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday announced an alliance between his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP led by veteran leader Sharad Pawar, signalling a temporary reunion of the estranged uncle-nephew duo.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ajit Pawar said the two NCP factions had decided to contest the civic polls together in the interest of development and stability in the industrial township. Referring to the party symbols of the two factions, he said the “family has come together” for the municipal elections and urged workers to focus on winning seats rather than engaging in political controversies.
The alliance comes more than two years after the NCP split in 2023, when Ajit Pawar broke away from the party and joined the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, leading to a sharp political and personal divide with his uncle Sharad Pawar. Since then, both factions have contested elections separately.
Party leaders said discussions on seat-sharing arrangements for the PCMC polls are underway and are expected to be finalised soon. There are also indications that the two factions may explore cooperation in other civic body elections, including the Pune Municipal Corporation, though no formal announcement has been made.
Political observers see the tie-up as a strategic move aimed at consolidating the NCP’s traditional support base in urban Maharashtra and countering rival parties in the civic elections. Pimpri-Chinchwad, one of the largest municipal corporations in the state, is considered a crucial political battleground.
The reunion, even if limited to civic polls, is being viewed as a notable moment in Maharashtra politics, reflecting shifting alliances and tactical adjustments ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
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