Ajit Pawar Signals Thaw in NCP Feud After Civic Poll Alliance
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar made a significant statement on Tuesday. He acknowledged a noticeable reduction in bitterness between the two warring factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This shift followed their decision to join forces for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections.
Door Remains Open for Sharad Pawar Reconciliation
Ajit Pawar explicitly denied holding any formal talks with his uncle and party founder, Sharad Pawar, regarding a merger or a continued political alliance. However, he carefully left the possibility open for future reconciliation. "There has been no discussion with Pawar Saheb at all," Ajit Pawar stated in an interview. "However, I want to make it clear that there are no permanent enemies in politics."
He invited people to draw their own conclusions from his remarks. "People can make whatever inferences they want from my statement," he said. The Deputy CM emphasized his political philosophy, tracing it back to Yashwantrao Chavan. "All I want to say is that I am a follower of Yashwantrao Chavan and I believe in the politics of addition, not subtraction."
From Acrimonious Split to Electoral Alliance
The political rift between the 66-year-old Ajit Pawar and the 85-year-old Sharad Pawar became official in July 2023. The nephew broke away with a group of MLAs and joined the BJP-led state government as Deputy Chief Minister. This rupture followed an earlier, brief alignment with the BJP back in November 2019.
Months of intense acrimony spilled over into the Lok Sabha and state assembly campaigns last year. The recent decision to ally for the crucial civic polls in Pune and neighboring Pimpri-Chinchwad marks a dramatic change in dynamics.
When questioned about extending this alliance beyond the municipal elections, Ajit Pawar stated that no formal decision had been made. Yet, he readily acknowledged its immediate, positive effect. "When such an alliance happens, it automatically helps reduce the bitterness on both sides," he explained. He added that neither faction has exchanged public criticisms since finalizing the electoral pact.
Grassroots Workers Bridge the Divide
According to Ajit Pawar, party workers played the most crucial role in bridging the deep divide. "My section convinced me to ally with them. Similarly, workers from the other group conveyed the same message to their seniors," he revealed.
This groundwork led to meetings between Ajit Pawar and key leaders from the Sharad Pawar camp, including Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar. Following these discussions, local city units negotiated the specifics of seat-sharing for the polls.
Tightening Contest and Reunited Support Base
The Deputy CM observed that the electoral contest in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, initially perceived as favoring the BJP, has now become much more competitive. "Residents are not only listening to us but also responding positively," he said. He contrasted this encouraging response with the reception he witnessed while campaigning for his wife, Sunetra Pawar, during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Ajit Pawar credited this improved public mood to the reunion of the NCP's core support base. "NCP supporters have always given their first preference to Pawar Saheb. A section of them also likes my style of working," he noted. "When we split, our supporters were divided. Now... both sections have reunited."
Influence of Sharad Pawar's Legacy
Reflecting on his own political work ethic, Ajit Pawar traced its origins directly to his uncle's influence. He recalled being in Class III when Sharad Pawar first became an MLA. "I've been following the same principle in my political career for over three decades," he said, mentioning early experiences like serving tea to visitors.
Denial of Tacit Adjustments with BJP
Ajit Pawar firmly pushed back against opposition allegations of a tacit understanding or "match-fixing" between the NCP and the BJP. These claims suggested the parties made adjustments by not forming alliances in the PMC and PCMC polls. "There is no match-fixing between us," he asserted. "They are trying to strengthen their party and I am trying the same for mine."
He clarified that the decision for Mahayuti alliance partners to contest separately in these two civic bodies was taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This decision was based on the BJP's existing numerical strength in both corporations. Ajit Pawar added a speculative note, suggesting that had talks between the BJP and the Shiv Sena failed earlier, his faction might have potentially secured an alliance with Eknath Shinde's party for these civic elections.
