Ajit Pawar Announces Alliance Ahead of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Elections

Alliance Announcement for Upcoming Elections

In the lead-up to the municipal elections in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), declared on Sunday a coalition between his faction and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections. He emphasized that the 'family' has reunited. This announcement was made during an election rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the municipal elections are scheduled for January 15.

During the rally, Ajit Pawar highlighted the unity between the two factions, stating, "The family has come together." He mentioned that while finalizing the list of candidates for the municipal elections, both factions decided to contest together, reinforcing their unity. He acknowledged that there are many questions regarding the election outcomes, but sometimes decisions must be made in the interest of Maharashtra's development. He also indicated that discussions regarding seat-sharing with local leaders have taken place, with an announcement expected soon. He referred to the party symbols, noting that 'Clock' and 'Tutari' have united.

Election Details and Ongoing Negotiations

The elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, will take place on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for the following day. The deadline for filing nominations is December 30.

Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing between both factions regarding a potential alliance for the Pune municipal elections. After prolonged negotiations, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar decided to resume talks with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the upcoming Pune elections, following a breakdown in discussions with Ajit Pawar's faction.

Negotiations between the two NCP factions had been ongoing for the past week but ultimately fell apart. Sources indicated that the talks collapsed because Ajit Pawar did not provide a final decision or agree to the key demands set forth by the Sharad Pawar-led faction.

Previously, the possibility of an alliance had created rifts within the MVA in Pune, prompting Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) to consider contesting the elections together. With the NCP-SP rejoining the MVA, coordination meetings among the three parties have resumed.