In a significant political development in Pune, the city unit of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) participated in a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coordination meeting for the first time on Tuesday. This move strongly hints at the party's potential entry into the opposition alliance for the upcoming municipal corporation elections. The political landscape is further complicated as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar simultaneously weighs the possibility of an alliance with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls.
MVA Opens Doors, Congress Reconsiders Stance
The MVA meeting, aimed at chalking out a joint poll strategy, saw the participation of representatives from all existing alliance partners: Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Notably, the Congress, which had previously opposed the inclusion of MNS in the state-level alliance, was also present at this crucial meeting. This indicates a possible softening of its stance at the local level to consolidate anti-BJP votes.
Former MLA Gautam Chabukswar of Shiv Sena (UBT) confirmed the broad-based attendance. He stated that the meeting included leaders from MNS and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, led by Mahadev Jankar, who are not formally part of the MVA yet. "We will welcome any party ready to fight the BJP," Chabukswar said, highlighting the alliance's open-door policy. MNS city president Sachin Chikhale echoed this sentiment, confirming his party's readiness to contest as an MVA partner and welcoming the prospect of Ajit Pawar's NCP joining the fold.
Parallel Talks: NCP's Dual Alliance Strategy
While the MVA expands, Ajit Pawar's NCP is engaged in parallel negotiations. On one front, it is in talks with MVA partners. On another, it is exploring a direct tie-up with NCP (SP) specifically for the Pimpri Chinchwad battle. This multi-pronged approach underscores the complex calculus ahead of the civic polls.
Nana Kate, the election chief of NCP's Pimpri Chinchwad unit, met with Sunil Gavhane from the NCP (SP)'s election committee on Monday to discuss a possible alliance. Gavhane revealed that the party's high command had advised local units to consider alliances with non-BJP parties, prompting the meeting. Kate added that Ajit Pawar had earlier directed the local unit to initiate talks with NCP (SP)'s city leadership.
Kate also disclosed that Baramati MP Supriya Sule from NCP (SP) had recently spoken to him. "She suggested that the PCMC election should be contested as an alliance to avoid splitting votes," Kate stated, adding that Sule urged both NCP factions to hold discussions locally.
Leadership Meetings and Proposals
The alliance discussions are moving to higher levels. NCP (SP) city president Tushar Kamthe met Ajit Pawar in Pune on Tuesday and submitted a formal proposal on behalf of the MVA's local unit, urging him to join the opposition front for the PCMC polls. "I gave him a proposal to join forces against BJP. He hasn't responded yet, but we remain hopeful," Kamthe told reporters.
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavhane indicated that NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde is expected to visit Pimpri Chinchwad on December 19 or 20, when further high-level alliance talks are likely to take place. He emphasized that while the final decision rests with the top leadership, all options are on the table.
BJP's Stance and the Road Ahead
Amidst this flurry of opposition activity, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has clarified its position. On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the BJP and Ajit Pawar's NCP would engage in a 'friendly contest' in both Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, explicitly ruling out any formal electoral alliance between them for the civic polls.
This declaration adds another layer to the political puzzle, as it pushes Ajit Pawar's NCP to seek partners elsewhere to avoid a multi-cornered fight that could benefit the BJP. The coming days are critical, as local units await directives from their respective state leaderships to finalize strategies for the high-stakes municipal elections that will shape the political future of the Pune metropolitan region.
