Ahead of the Maharashtra civic elections, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Sunday announced an alliance between his party and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction
for the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls, declaring that the Pawar ‘parivar‘ (family) has come together again.
Ajit Pawar made the announcement while addressing party workers during an election campaign rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where elections to the civic body are scheduled for January 15.
He said the decision to contest the polls jointly was taken during discussions on finalising the list of candidates for the municipal elections.
“While finalising the list of candidates for the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar faction decided to contest the polls together in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Because of this, the family will come together once again,” Pawar said.
Referring to the party symbols of the two factions, Pawar said, “For the sake of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, the ‘clock’ and the ‘tutari’ (trumpet) have united. The parivar has come together.”
His remarks were greeted with loud applause from party cadres, many of whom see the alliance as a major boost to the NCP’s prospects in one of Maharashtra’s most politically significant urban centres.
Acknowledging the speculation surrounding the relationship between the two factions since the split in the party, Pawar said there had been several questions in people’s minds about the future course of action.
“There were many questions in people’s minds about what would happen. Many times, certain decisions have to be taken in the interest of Maharashtra’s development,” he said, underlining that the alliance was driven by broader considerations rather than past differences.
Pawar also indicated that seat-sharing talks are already underway at the local level and that a formal announcement would be made soon.
“I have discussed seat-sharing with leaders here, and that too will be announced soon,” he said, urging party workers to focus on campaigning and to refrain from making any controversial remarks during rallies that could harm the alliance’s prospects.
Positioning the alliance as a development-oriented front, Ajit Pawar said the NCP had a strong record of governance at the municipal level.
“We are the ones who work for development. We will edge out those who tried to put this municipal corporation in debt,” he told party workers, calling on them to work hard to ensure a decisive mandate in the PCMC elections.
Meanwhile, discussions between the two NCP factions are also underway for a possible tie-up in the Pune Municipal Corporation polls, indicating that the cooperation announced for Pimpri-Chinchwad could extend to other major civic bodies in the state.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.
The last date for filing nominations is December 30.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the NCP on Sunday announced its first list of 37 candidates for the January 15 elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), indicating that the party has decided to go solo in the state capital.
The second list of candidates is expected to be released soon.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Mumbai will see polling across 227 electoral wards on January 15, with votes to be counted on January 16.
ALSO READ | Sharad Pawar’s Dinner Diplomacy: Rahul Gandhi, Ajit Pawar, Other Political Leaders Among Attendees
