Weeks ahead of Maharashtra’s civic elections, the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, appear to be inching toward a major family and political reunion. On Friday, the uncle-nephew duo was reportedly close to finalising seat-sharing plans for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), one of 29 civic bodies going to polls next month, including the Rs 74,000-crore Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Ajit Pawar Feels Sidelined

Ajit Pawar, who broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar’s camp in July 2023 and led 18 NCP MLAs into a BJP alliance, currently holds the post of Deputy Chief Minister. According to an NDTV report, Ajit feels sidelined within the BJP-led Mahayuti. Earlier, his nomination of former minister Nawab Malik as the face of his NCP in Mumbai’s civic elections was rejected by the BJP, citing fears of backlash from Hindu voters over Malik’s alleged ties to mob boss Dawood Ibrahim.

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Meanwhile, Sharad is eyeing another political reunion. The Thackeray brothers, Uddhav and Raj, joined forces over the Marathi language row and announced an alliance for the upcoming civic polls.

Ajit Pawar’s Solo Move On Cards?

Weeks ahead of civic elections, Sharad Pawar’s NCP and the Congress remain hesitant to form an alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, with the Congress choosing to contest the BMC polls independently.

Amid these dynamics, speculation is growing that Ajit may go it alone in the Pune civic polls to test the strength of his faction. According to NDTV sources, even a defeat could be a key indicator for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of the next state elections.

Ajit And Rohit Pawar Hold Talks Ahead Of Pune Civic Polls

On Thursday night, Ajit met Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar in Anushaktinagar, Pune, reportedly to discuss the possible seat-sharing agreement for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. While some details are still being worked out, the ‘clock’ party symbol, currently held by Ajit Pawar, remains a major sticking point.

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Speaking to NDTV, party sources said the use of ‘clock’ would show that Ajit Pawar’s group is the main NCP faction, but the final decision will depend on the seat-sharing arrangement among party leaders and MLAs from both sides.