Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra municipal elections, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar announced on Sunday that his party and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction will contest the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections together. He said the Pawar ‘parivar’ (family) has reunited once again.
Ajit Pawar made this announcement during a campaign rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where voting for the civic body will take place on January 15.
Decision taken during candidate selection
Ajit Pawar said the two factions agreed to fight the PCMC polls together while preparing the list of candidates for the election.
“While finalising the list of candidates for the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar faction decided to contest the polls together in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Because of this, the family will come together once again,” Pawar said.
NCP ‘Clock’ and ‘trumpet’ symbols unite
Referring to the election symbols of the two factions, Pawar highlighted the political reunion.
“For the sake of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, the ‘clock’ and the ‘tutari’ (trumpet) have united. The parivar has come together.”
His statement was welcomed with loud applause by party workers, who see the alliance as a big boost for the NCP in one of Maharashtra’s most important urban political areas.
NCP Past differences put aside
Ajit Pawar also spoke about the uncertainty that followed the split in the NCP. He said many people were wondering what would happen between the two groups.
“There were many questions in people’s minds about what would happen. Many times, certain decisions have to be taken in the interest of Maharashtra’s development,” he said, explaining that the alliance is focused on the state’s progress rather than past disputes.
Seat-sharing talks in progress
Pawar confirmed that discussions about sharing seats are already taking place at the local level and will be announced soon.
“I have discussed seat-sharing with leaders here, and that too will be announced soon,” he said. He also asked party workers to concentrate on campaigning and avoid controversial comments that could damage the alliance.
Focus on development
Calling the alliance a development-focused partnership, Ajit Pawar said the NCP has a strong record in running municipal bodies.
“We are the ones who work for development. We will edge out those who tried to put this municipal corporation in debt,” he said, urging workers to work hard to win a clear mandate in the PCMC elections.
Talks on Pune civic polls also underway
At the same time, leaders of both NCP factions are also discussing a possible alliance for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. This suggests that the cooperation announced in Pimpri-Chinchwad may be extended to other big cities as well.
Key election dates
Elections will be held for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, on January 15. The counting of votes will take place on January 16. The last date to file nominations is December 30.
NCP to contest BMC polls alone
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the NCP announced its first list of 37 candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. This indicates that the party will contest alone in Mumbai.
The party is expected to release a second list of candidates soon.
Mumbai election schedule
The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced that elections will be held in 29 municipal corporations, including BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation, and PCMC.
In Mumbai, voting will take place in 227 wards on January 15, and results will be declared on January 16.
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