The political landscape of Pimpri Chinchwad is set for a dramatic showdown as the city gears up for its municipal corporation elections after a gap of nearly nine years. In a significant development, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has forged an electoral alliance with his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction, the NCP(SP), aiming to reclaim the civic body that was once considered his stronghold.
Alliances and Solo Runs Define the Contest
This election marks a complex web of partnerships and independent strategies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which ended the NCP's nearly three-decade-long dominance in the 2017 polls, has decided to contest independently to retain its hold. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has continued its partnership with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, mirroring their arrangement for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
All other significant parties, including the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and the Aam Aadmi Party, have chosen to go solo in the Pimpri Chinchwad battleground. The BJP has already gained an early advantage by securing an unopposed win for two of its candidates.
Seat Distribution and Failed Negotiations
The election will see a direct clash between two state-level Mahayuti partners, the BJP and the NCP, across most of the 32 wards. The BJP has nominated candidates in 125 seats, with three more set to contest as independents after their AB forms were rejected. The Shiv Sena is contesting 58 seats, plus two independents for the same reason.
On the other side, the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, is contesting from 118 seats, after three candidates withdrew on Friday. Its ally, the NCP(SP), will fight from 11 seats. Interestingly, there will be a friendly fight between the two NCP factions in seven of these wards.
The path to these alliances was fraught with failed negotiations. Talks between the Shiv Sena and the BJP continued until the final day for filing nominations, but collapsed just two hours before the deadline. Similarly, negotiations between the Congress and Shiv Sena(UBT) broke down a day before the last date.
Leaders Explain the Political Calculus
Gautam Chabukswar, a former MLA and Sena(UBT) member, expressed disappointment on Friday. "We were trying to bring together MVA partners, but first NCP(SP) opted out and then Congress decided to go solo a day before the last day for nominations," he said.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, speaking to reporters in Pimpri Chinchwad, confirmed his own unsuccessful outreach. "The alliance talks with Shiv Sena did not work out, but we agreed to help each other in one of the 32 wards in PCMC," he revealed, highlighting the fragmented nature of the pre-poll negotiations.
A Multi-Cornered Fight for Control
The stage is now set for a fiercely competitive, multi-cornered contest for control of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The alliance between the two NCP factions is the central storyline, representing a tactical reunion against a common rival. The BJP's solo strategy underscores its confidence after breaking the NCP's long rule. With major parties contesting separately and key alliances failing at the last minute, the election results will be a crucial indicator of shifting political loyalties and ground-level dynamics in this important Maharashtra region.
