In a significant political development ahead of the crucial municipal elections, rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) came together on Saturday to present a united front. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his cousin, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule, shared the stage at a joint press conference in Pune, releasing a common manifesto for the upcoming civic polls.
A Thaw After the Split
The event marked a notable display of growing proximity between the two groups, which had undergone a bitter split in July 2023. While Ajit Pawar leads the NCP faction that is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance with the BJP, Supriya Sule's NCP (SP) is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Despite their differing state and national alliances, both factions have decided to join hands specifically for the January 15 elections to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations.
The presence of Sule and other NCP (SP) leaders was particularly noteworthy as they had largely remained absent from the campaign trail until this point. The joint appearance signals a strategic, localized collaboration aimed at consolidating the traditional NCP voter base in the urban civic bodies.
Key Promises of the Joint Manifesto
Addressing the media, Ajit Pawar outlined the poll document's focus on pressing civic issues plaguing Pune. The manifesto makes a series of ambitious assurances to the city's residents, targeting core infrastructure and quality-of-life concerns.
The key pledges include:
- Assured tap water supply to address chronic shortages.
- Measures to ease the city's notorious traffic congestion.
- The promise of pothole-free roads.
- Enhanced cleanliness drives and pollution control initiatives.
- Access to hi-tech healthcare services.
- A comprehensive slum rehabilitation program.
In a populist move, the manifesto also proposes free travel on PMPML buses and the metro system. Furthermore, it offers a waiver of property tax for houses up to 500 square feet and promises free computer tablets for students.
Political Undertones and Local Targeting
Despite being in power with the BJP at both the state and central levels, Ajit Pawar used the platform to launch a sharp attack on the local BJP leadership. He accused them of derailing the development of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, alleging mismanagement despite the civic bodies receiving substantial funds from the state and central governments.
This criticism is pointed, given that the BJP held power in both municipal corporations from 2017 to 2022. The joint NCP manifesto and the alliance between the two factions are seen as a direct challenge to the BJP's influence in the region's urban local governance.
The collaboration for the Pune civic polls underscores the complex and often contradictory nature of Maharashtra's politics, where national and state-level alliances can be set aside for specific local electoral gains. Whether this temporary unity translates into electoral success on January 15 remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly reshaped the dynamics of the campaign.
