In a significant political development ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, proposed alliance talks between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party have officially collapsed. The breakdown occurred primarily over a dispute regarding the election symbol and seat-sharing arrangements, pushing the Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) back into the fold of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Symbol Dispute Derails NCP Unity Talks
The core issue that led to the failure of negotiations was the insistence by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP that candidates from the Sharad Pawar faction must contest the civic polls using the NCP's original 'clock' election symbol. The NCP(SP) firmly rejected this demand, asserting its identity as a separate political entity. MP Supriya Sule, the working president of NCP(SP), confirmed the collapse of the alliance discussions in a statement to The Indian Express on Saturday.
"Yes, our alliance discussion with the NCP has broken down. There will be no alliance," Sule stated. This fundamental disagreement over symbol and identity proved insurmountable, halting any potential united front between the two groups derived from the same party.
NCP(SP) Re-engages with MVA, Seat-Sharing Talks Begin
Following the collapse of internal NCP talks, the Sharad Pawar-led party swiftly moved to rekindle its alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which comprises the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Leaders from the three MVA constituent parties held seat-sharing discussions at a hotel in Pune late on Friday evening.
Supriya Sule emphasized the continuity of their relationship with the MVA, stating, "Our relations with the Maha Vikas Aghadi are intact…our discussions have been going on." However, these renewed MVA talks are not without their own challenges. A fresh point of contention has emerged concerning the seat previously held by former Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap.
Jagtap recently switched allegiance from the NCP(SP) to the Congress, reportedly upset over the potential alliance between the two NCP factions. The NCP(SP) is now demanding that the seat from which Jagtap was elected be allocated to them. Congress spokesperson Ramesh Iyer acknowledged the demand, while a Congress leader indicated the party's reluctance to cede seats held by Jagtap and his mother, suggesting the matter would be escalated to the state leadership.
Deadlock in Pimpri-Chinchwad Over Seat Numbers
The political impasse extends beyond the PMC to the neighboring Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Discussions there have also reached a standstill, with disagreements over the number of seats sought by Sharad Pawar's party. According to Yogesh Behl, the Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP president, the NCP(SP) initially demanded 27 seats and later revised it to 23.
Behl criticized the demand as unrealistic, stating, "It is impossible to give them so many seats when they have only two former corporators with them." This highlights the tough bargaining and assessment of ground strength that characterizes pre-poll negotiations.
The failure to forge a united NCP front is likely to split the party's traditional vote bank in the Pune civic polls, potentially benefiting other players. The rapid return of the NCP(SP) to the MVA table underscores the fluid and dynamic nature of Maharashtra's politics, where alliances are constantly negotiated and renegotiated based on local electoral calculus. All eyes are now on the MVA's ability to finalize a smooth seat-sharing formula amidst these new demands and defections.
