Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, has publicly confirmed that his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is actively engaged in discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction of the Shiv Sena. The talks center on a potential seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming civic elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Alliance Picture to Clear Post Nomination Scrutiny
Speaking to the press in Pune on Thursday, Pawar indicated that the final shape of electoral alliances will become evident only after the completion of the nomination scrutiny and withdrawal process. He made these remarks after paying homage at the 'Jay Stambh' on the 208th anniversary of the historic Koregaon Bhima battle.
The nomination process for the polls, scheduled for January 15, concluded on December 30. The last date for candidates to withdraw their nominations is January 2, with the final list of contestants set to be published on January 3.
Fluid Political Equations in Local Polls
This development highlights the increasingly fluid nature of political alliances in Maharashtra at the local level. While the NCP and Shiv Sena are constituent parties of the ruling 'Mahayuti' coalition at the state level alongside the BJP, Pawar's NCP had previously announced an alliance with Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) for the two municipal corporations. The NCP (SP) is part of the opposition 'Maha Vikas Aghadi'.
"We are contesting in alliance with NCP (SP) in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. We are also having talks with Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant. Possibly, we will come to an understanding over some seats with Shiv Sena for these civic bodies," Pawar elaborated.
Questions on Candidates with Criminal Links
When questioned about the distribution of tickets to individuals with alleged criminal backgrounds, Pawar pointed to the party's alliance with the Republican Party of India (Sachin Kharat faction). He stated that the RPI faction has the discretion to nominate its candidates.
This includes the nomination of Sonali Andekar, the daughter-in-law of alleged gang leader Suryakant (alias Bandu Andekar), and his sister-in-law Laxmi Andekar for seats in Pune.
Elections for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with the counting of votes scheduled for January 16. The outcome will be a crucial test for the stability of state-level alliances in the arena of local governance.
