Pune, Dec 25: The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) is in discussions to explore a possible alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, party leader Supriya Sule said on Wednesday.
NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule confirmed that talks were underway but clarified that no final decision had been taken. “We are in discussion; our efforts will be on the same line till the end. In a democracy, there must be discussion, and people have the right to express their will,” she said while speaking to reporters in Pune.
Speculation has intensified over a possible tie-up between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, scheduled for January 15, with counting to be held the next day. The discussions come in the backdrop of the recent reunion of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
Addressing concerns within her party, Sule said the NCP (SP) would not proceed with any alliance until the apprehensions of party workers were resolved. These are only discussions. In any strong democracy, dialogue and discussion are important,” she said, adding that party ideology would not be compromised if both NCP factions were to join hands. “No ideology or party policy will be compromised if we join hands with the NCP,” she said.
The talks have triggered internal dissent, with Prashant Jagtap, the NCP (SP) city unit president and a Sharad Pawar loyalist, resigning over the possible alliance with Ajit Pawar’s faction. Responding to the development, Sule said she had spoken to Jagtap at length and acknowledged his concerns. “Jagtap’s concerns were valid. His questions are absolutely valid,” she said.
Sule also said she has not yet held direct talks with Ajit Pawar on the issue. “I will speak to Ajit Dada only after listening to all party workers. I will not move ahead with any alliance until all doubts and apprehensions are addressed,” she said, adding that Pune required a change for development.
Ajit Pawar had split from Sharad Pawar in 2023, aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that led to the collapse of the then Maharashtra government.
Elections to 29 civic corporations across the state, including the Pune Municipal Corporation, will be held on January 15, with votes to be counted on January 16. In the recently concluded municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, the NCP secured 966 seats while the NCP (SP) won 256 seats, highlighting the shifting political dynamics ahead of the civic polls.
