In a significant political development ahead of the crucial municipal corporation elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has reached out to the Congress party, his former ally, proposing an electoral alliance. This move comes shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena declared they would contest the polls together in both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Phone Call Initiates Alliance Talks
According to a senior Congress member, Ajit Pawar on Monday telephoned Satej Patil, the Congress's former minister and coordinator for Pune district. During their conversation, Pawar formally offered an alliance for the upcoming elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). This marked the first official contact between the two parties on this matter, with the initiative taken by the NCP leader.
The Congress source indicated that while the discussion took place, it is too early to draw any definitive conclusions about a potential pact. Satej Patil himself declined to comment on the matter when approached. However, another senior Congress leader from Pune confirmed that a meeting has been scheduled at Congress Bhavan on December 24 to deliberate on the possibility of joining hands with the NCP.
Shifting Sands in Pune's Political Landscape
Pune is the home district of Ajit Pawar, who has historically wielded considerable influence over both the PMC and PCMC. However, the 2017 civic elections saw the BJP successfully wrest control from the NCP in both municipal bodies. The political dynamics have undergone a dramatic transformation since then, with major splits in both the Shiv Sena and the NCP.
The factions led by Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) are now part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance with the BJP at the state level. Despite this alliance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently announced that the BJP would partner exclusively with the Shiv Sena for the PMC and PCMC elections, terming it a "friendly fight" with its other allies.
This declaration has placed Ajit Pawar's NCP in a difficult position, exacerbated by reports of the BJP poaching several aspiring candidates from his party. This has seemingly limited the deputy chief minister's options, prompting him to explore alliances elsewhere to secure a strong footing in the polls.
The Ideological Pitch and Future Moves
A senior NCP member explained the rationale behind approaching the Congress, stating that the party is already in discussions with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) for an alliance in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The core idea is to appeal to voters on a platform of secular ideology. Since the Congress party adheres to a similar ideological stance, the NCP decided to extend an offer for collaboration.
The outcome of these talks will significantly shape the contest for control of Pune's two major civic bodies. With the BJP-Shiv Sena combine presenting a united front, the response from Congress and other opposition groups will determine whether a formidable counter-alliance emerges in the coming days.
