Amid the fervent campaigning for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has shed light on the unexpected alliance between two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Ajit Pawar, in an interview with a regional TV channel, explained the strategic rationale behind joining forces with the Sharad Pawar-led faction in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to prevent a split in the NCP’s vote bank. He initially proposed an alliance with Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, which was declined due to ongoing discussions with the BJP.
Shiv Sena’s leader Eknath Shinde later suggested an alliance after talks with the BJP failed, just a day before the candidate nomination deadline. However, Ajit Pawar declined at that point, citing potential internal rebellion due to already announced candidates. Subsequently, the two NCP factions, led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, engaged in discussions following the failed coordination with Shiv Sena in Pune.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stressed that the reconciliation for this local body election was driven by “arithmetic,” highlighting that a unified front would strengthen the NCP’s position by preventing a split in loyal NCP voters that could benefit the BJP. While there were rumors of Ajit Pawar demanding all candidates to contest under his ‘Clock’ symbol, he clarified that a flexible approach was taken based on the factions’ strengths in different areas.
High-level discussions were held between Ajit Pawar, NCP-SP MP Amol Kolhe, and NCP MLA Rohit Pawar to finalize the seat-sharing formula. The reunification of the “Two NCPs” for the Pune local polls is seen as a significant tactical move, indicating a focus on regional dominance over state-level alliances in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
