Pawar factions to come together for Pune polls? Leaders drop big hint

Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar with uncle Sharad Pawar

• NCP factions to unite for Pune civic polls, first joint contest since 2023 split
• Seat-sharing talks with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) to be held soon
• Municipal elections in Maharashtra set for January 15, 2026

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The civic polls in Maharashtra may see rapprochement on both sides of the political axis. While the Thackeray cousins are all set to officially announce their reunion later today, the two factions of NCP (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar) are also apparently considering a union in Pune, according to a report by NDTV.

The two factions reportedly decided to unite for contesting the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation polls. NCP-SCP leader Ankush Kakade on Tuesday remarked that the Maha Vikas Agadhi partners, along with the temporarily united NCP will be deciding on a "seat-sharing formula" soon.

"Nationalist Congress Party- Sharadchandra Pawar and Nationalist Congress Party- Ajit Pawar have decided to contest the upcoming Pune municipal elections together... We have a meeting with our other partners this afternoon," NCP-SCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade said. "No discussions have been held on seat sharing. We will talk to Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), and all four parties will sit together to discuss the seat-sharing formula... Ajit Pawar's faction and our faction's ideology are the same," he added.

However, there is speculation about unrest and internal divisions within the NCP-SCP following the decision to extend the temporary truce, with Prashant Jagtap, the party's Pune President, offering his resignation to the leadership if the alliance proceeds.

The coming together of NCP factions marks a significant turn in state politics, as it is the first time both parties will contest an election together since Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar broke away from the NC, led b his uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023.

The process of filing nominations for the elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra began on Tuesday (December 23, 2025). The window for filing nomination remains open till December 30.

A week ago, State Election Commission announced that the long due municipal corporation elections will be held on January 15, 2026 and followed by results on the next day. The Day 1 numbers on nominations filed will be known at the end of the evening. The candidates can withdraw their forms till January 2.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Thursday that NCP-SP uniting with NCP for local body elections would be like joining hands with the BJP. Raut also reiterated that Sharad Pawar is in favour of the alliance of Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the civic body polls scheduled on January 15, following the result on the next day. “Sharad Pawar’s NCP will align with Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in Nashik and Thane,” he added.

Days ago, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also indicated that the BJP was contesting against the NCP in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations. After that, the talks of two rival factions of the NCP uniting for elections in Pune came forward. However, there is no official announcement yet.