In the lead-up to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated for January 15, 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has emphasized the distinction between national, state, and local politics. This strategic positioning comes as his party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), prepares to contest the BMC polls independently, despite being a constituent of the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra.

Pawar's NCP has already announced its first list of 37 candidates for the 227 wards of the BMC, signaling its intent to contest the elections seriously. The party is expected to release a second list of candidates soon. Sana Malik, an NCP MLA, has stated that the initial list reflects a broad social representation. The NCP has declared candidates across 37 wards, striving for balance among various communities, including Maratha, OBC, Muslim, Christian, Scheduled Castes, and women.

While the NCP is part of the Mahayuti alliance at the state level, it has chosen to contest the BMC elections independently. Seat-sharing talks within the alliance reportedly did not yield the desired outcome for the NCP. Earlier, the BJP city chief Ameet Satam had dismissed any alliance with the NCP, citing Nawab Malik's role in the party's election management for the BMC polls.

Nawab Malik, a senior NCP leader, has expressed confidence that his party could emerge as a kingmaker in the BMC elections, anticipating a possible hung House. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is contesting 94 seats independently. Malik also raised concerns regarding the nomination scrutiny process, alleging arbitrary rejection of NCP candidates' nominations.

Ajit Pawar has been actively campaigning for the BMC elections, criticizing the BJP's local leadership for the "lack of development" in Pune and urging citizens to give his party a chance. He pointed out persistent traffic problems and inadequate civic amenities in Pune, despite the Pune Municipal Corporation having sufficient resources. Pawar served as guardian minister and reviewed the situation, observing that many planned measures were not implemented. He has accused the BJP of derailing the city's development due to a lack of governance in the PMC.

Responding to comments from BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol, Ajit Pawar defended his right to speak freely, invoking the Constitution. He also addressed the absence of an alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, acknowledging the highly competitive nature of local-level politics, even as the parties are allies at the Centre and in the state.

The upcoming BMC elections have become a multi-cornered contest, with the BJP–Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance, the Shiv Sena (UBT)–Sharad Pawar-led NCP–MNS combine, the Congress–Vanchit alliance, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP all vying for control of the civic body. The NCP has released a list of 40 star campaigners, including senior leaders and young faces, to lead the party's outreach across Maharashtra.

Earlier, Ajit Pawar thanked voters for their trust in the NCP in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, pledging a development-focused governance. He described the mandate as an affirmation of public trust and a commitment to development-oriented politics that prioritizes people's welfare. Pawar emphasized that the elections were not merely about victory but about serving the common people and ensuring transparent and accountable governance at the grassroots level.