In a surprising turn of events ahead of the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections slated for January 15, 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced an alliance between his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, for the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls. The announcement, made on Sunday, December 28, 2025, signals a reunion of the Pawar family in the political arena and has stirred considerable excitement among party supporters. The results of the election will be declared on January 16.
Ajit Pawar, speaking at an election campaign rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad, emphasized the significance of the alliance, stating that the "family has come together once again". He acknowledged the questions that may arise in people's minds but stressed that such decisions are often necessary for the development of Maharashtra. He also referenced the party symbols, noting that the 'clock' (NCP) and the 'tutari' (NCP-SP) have united.
The move is particularly noteworthy as senior leaders from both parties had previously downplayed the possibility of an alliance for the Pune civic polls. Sources indicated that a key point of contention was Ajit Pawar's insistence that candidates from the Sharad Pawar-led faction contest under his party's symbol, a demand that the NCP (SP) leadership resisted.
According to reports, seat-sharing discussions between the two factions are underway, and an announcement regarding the allocation of seats is expected soon. Ajit Pawar mentioned that discussions had taken place with local leaders and that an understanding had been reached, though he conceded that his party had to step back on some seats.
The NCP- Sharadchandra Pawar spokesperson, Ankush Kakade, confirmed the alliance and stated that a meeting with other partners would be held to discuss seat sharing. He said that Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT would also be involved in discussions to determine the seat-sharing formula.
Ajit Pawar expressed confidence that the alliance would work for the all-round development of Maharashtra. He also took the opportunity to criticize unnamed entities for allegedly engaging in "shady practices" and warned the people of Pimpri-Chinchwad against tolerating such behavior. He said there were projects underway that would be shut down and warned against such practices.
The upcoming municipal elections are crucial for both factions, and this alliance could significantly impact the political landscape of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune. With the elections just around the corner, the focus will now be on how effectively the two parties can work together and whether they can overcome past differences to present a united front to the voters. The elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune civic bodies, will be held on January 15, with the last date for filing nominations being December 30.
