Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced a significant alliance with his uncle Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) faction for the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal elections. The announcement on Sunday, December 29, 2025, marks a reunion for the once-divided Pawar family ahead of the January 15, 2026, civic polls in 29 Maharashtra corporations. Ajit Pawar declared that the "parivar (family) has come together" for these crucial local contests.^[1][2] ### Family United for Local Power Ajit Pawar made the surprise declaration during an election campaign rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad. He stated that his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction would jointly contest the local body elections. This move comes over two years after a bitter split within the Nationalist Congress Party in July 2023.^[3][4] The two factions, which previously claimed the NCP name and symbol, are now joining forces in a significant political development.^[4] The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the decision to unite was finalized during discussions about candidate selection for the municipal polls. "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," Ajit Pawar told the gathering.^[2][4] He added that this decision was made in the larger interest of Maharashtra's development.^[5] ### Symbols of Unity: Clock and Trumpet Ajit Pawar highlighted the symbolic unification of the two factions. His NCP uses the 'clock' symbol, while Sharad Pawar's faction adopted the 'tutari' (trumpet) symbol after the split.^[2][6] "For the sake of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, the 'clock' and the 'tutari' (trumpet) have united. The parivar has come together," Ajit Pawar stated to enthusiastic applause.^[2][7] This symbolic merger aims to present a consolidated front to voters.^[8] The alliance is currently focused on the Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune civic bodies, which are considered strongholds for the Pawar family.^[9][10] Elections for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with vote counting set for the following day.^[1][11] The deadline for filing nominations for these elections is December 30, 2025.^[1][12] ### Strategic Move for Civic Control The reconciliation follows a period of intense political maneuvering and internal party struggles. Ajit Pawar had broken away from the undivided NCP in July 2023 to join the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, becoming Deputy Chief Minister.^[4][11] This move led to a legal battle over the party name and symbol, which the Election Commission of India eventually awarded to Ajit Pawar's faction in February 2024.^[6][4] Sources indicate that the alliance is a pragmatic electoral strategy. The two factions faced pressure from party workers and a desire to consolidate their base in their shared political turf.^[10] The BJP had controlled both the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies from 2017 to 2022, marking an erosion of Pawar influence.^[9][13] Reuniting for these polls could help the NCP factions regain control of these financially rich municipal corporations.^[9] ### Seat Sharing and Future Outlook Discussions for seat-sharing arrangements between the two NCP factions are ongoing at the local level.^[2][7] Ajit Pawar mentioned that details about seat allocation would be announced shortly.^[5][8] Earlier talks for the Pune civic polls had faced hurdles, but the recent announcement confirms a joint contest in both Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune.^[1][13] NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, Sharad Pawar's grandnephew, confirmed that the alliance was limited to these two civic bodies for now, reflecting the wishes of local party workers.^[7][10] He clarified that Sharad Pawar was not directly involved in the decision-making process for finalizing the alliance, but believed in the importance of party workers' views in civic elections.^[7][13] The alliance is seen as a strategic step to bolster the parties' electoral prospects in a region where they have historically held significant sway. Ajit Pawar urged party workers to maintain discipline and focus on development work during the campaign, avoiding controversial statements.^[7][8] He positioned the partnership as a development-focused alternative for the local administration.^[2] This reunion highlights the fluid nature of Maharashtra politics, where family ties and electoral compulsions often shape alliances.^[9]

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