In a significant political development, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar has decisively ruled out any electoral alliance with the faction led by his nephew, Ajit Pawar, for the upcoming civic body elections in Pune. The clarification came during a crucial meeting with the party's Pune unit president, Prashant Jagtap, on Saturday.
Meeting at Pune Residence Sets Clear Stance
Prashant Jagtap met with the veteran leader at Sharad Pawar's residence in Pune to discuss alliance strategies for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls, which are anticipated to be held next month. Jagtap presented his perspective on potential partnerships with other political groups. Following the discussion, Pawar's directive was unequivocal.
"After the presentation, Sharad Pawar made it clear that our party would go to municipal corporations polls with our alliance partners in the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi). We will work on keeping the alliance of opposition parties intact," Jagtap stated, confirming the party's commitment to the opposition coalition comprising Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress.
Internal Party Views and a Stark Ultimatum
The backdrop to this meeting involves intense speculation about possible reunions or local alliances between the two NCP factions. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding dominance in both PMC and PCMC regions, some leaders from Ajit Pawar's camp, as well as a few within Sharad Pawar's own party, had expressed a desire for an electoral understanding to consolidate anti-BJP votes.
However, Prashant Jagtap emerged as a staunch opponent of such a move. He went so far as to declare that he would retire from politics if the two NCP groups joined hands for these elections. His strong stance highlighted the deep divisions and personal political stakes involved in the post-split dynamics of the party.
Democratic Discussion, Unified Official Stand
Addressing the internal differences of opinion, Jagtap acknowledged the party's democratic principles. "Our party works on democratic principles, and everyone has a right to express his or her views. Some may be in favour of an alliance with others (Ajit Pawar's NCP), but that is not the party's official stand," he explained.
To solidify this position and quell any rumors, Sharad Pawar took direct action. He communicated with the party's state chief, Shashikant Shinde, over the phone, instructing him to publicly announce that the NCP (SP) will remain a firm part of the MVA alliance for the forthcoming municipal battles.
This decision sets the stage for a multi-cornered contest in Pune's civic elections, with the BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and the MVA alliance featuring Sharad Pawar's party as key players. The ruling effectively ends weeks of speculation and aligns Sharad Pawar's strategy firmly with the broader opposition coalition in Maharashtra.
