In a significant political development, the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar respectively, have decided to join hands for the upcoming civic elections in Pune. This move comes after a year of intense acrimony, public allegations, and even family members contesting against each other in state and national polls.
From Bitter Split to Strategic Alliance
The decision to form an alliance for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) marks a dramatic shift in the relationship between the two groups. The NCP split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar, along with several senior party leaders, joined the BJP-Shiv Sena's Mahayuti alliance and he became the Deputy Chief Minister. The split led to fierce electoral battles in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections, where Pawar family members were pitted against each other.
Senior leaders from both sides held a series of meetings in Pune to broker this local-level pact. Political observers note that the alliance was forged against the backdrop of a changed political reality. Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) has seen its vote base shrink, making independent contest difficult. Conversely, Ajit Pawar's NCP faces the formidable challenge of its own ally, the BJP, in its stronghold regions.
A Calculated Move for Civic Power
According to political analyst Prakash Pawar, the civic bodies present a different game altogether. "Sharad Pawar's party cannot succeed in contesting independently as its vote base has considerably reduced. Ajit Pawar's party has a bigger challenge from its own ally, the BJP," he told TOI. He added that to take on a strong opponent like the BJP in Pune, Ajit Pawar needed support from other parties in his home district, paving the way for this alliance.
This pragmatic calculation has led to a visible softening of stances. Recently, members from both sides of the Pawar family have been seen engaging in conversations at public functions, a sight unthinkable just months ago. Notably, veteran leader Sharad Pawar, who has consistently portrayed a secular ideology and stated he would align with any party barring the BJP, is reportedly not directly involved in the alliance discussions. His party is now allying with a group that is formally part of the BJP-led coalition at the state and centre.
Milestones in the NCP Journey
The path to this point has been long and eventful for the party founded by Sharad Pawar.
- 1999: Sharad Pawar expelled from Congress, forms the Nationalist Congress Party.
- 2000: NCP gains national party status.
- November 2019: After the BJP-Shiv Sena government falls, NCP forms the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with Shiv Sena and Congress to return to power.
- May 2023: Sharad Pawar announces he will step down as party president but later retracts.
- July 2023: Ajit Pawar splits the party, joins Mahayuti with several MLAs, and becomes Deputy CM.
- February 2024: The Election Commission of India awards the NCP name and 'clock' symbol to Ajit Pawar's faction. Sharad Pawar's group is named Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar) with the 'tutari' (bugle) as its symbol.
The Future: A Window for Reconciliation
The success of this electoral experiment in Pune's civic bodies is seen as a crucial test for any future reunion. Both groups will be eager to perform well as an alliance. If they taste success while contesting together, formal talks of a larger reconciliation could begin. A positive result is likely to generate a push for reunion not just from the senior leadership but also from the party's rank and file.
Rohit Pawar, NCP (SP) state general secretary, indicated that the senior Pawar's advice was to take all workers who fought for the party into confidence. This alliance, therefore, opens a fascinating new chapter in Maharashtra's volatile political landscape, where familial and political ties are once again being recalibrated for pragmatic gains.
