Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has indicated that he is not entirely dismissing the prospect of the two Nationalist Congress Party factions—led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar—eventually reuniting at a broader level. His remarks came during interactions with the media on the final day of campaigning for the January 15 civic body elections, where he addressed the ongoing local alliance between the two groups in select municipal corporations.

Fadnavis clarified that the current understanding between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is limited strictly to a few civic bodies, notably in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. He emphasized that no formal merger has taken place and described the arrangement as a localized phenomenon driven by regional leaders seeking to consolidate their respective support bases in fiercely contested municipal races.

The chief minister suggested that the primary motivation behind this tactical tie-up appears to be internal party management rather than any indication of a larger ideological or political reconciliation. According to Fadnavis, both sides are projecting unity in these specific areas mainly to prevent defections and maintain cohesion among their workers and supporters amid the high-stakes local elections.

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Drawing lessons from Maharashtra’s unpredictable political landscape, Fadnavis referenced the 2019 formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi—when the undivided Shiv Sena allied with the Congress and NCP—as a precedent that underscores the possibility of unexpected realignments. He stated that while the present civic-level cooperation remains confined and non-committal at the state level, he remains cautious and would not outright rule out a future broader coming together of the two NCP factions.

Fadnavis asserted that the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP—continues to enjoy strong prospects in the ongoing civic polls, including in major corporations such as Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Nashik. He added that should any significant shift occur between the Pawar factions in the future, the Mahayuti would assess and respond to the situation appropriately at that juncture.

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