Pawar + Pawar Reunite: Joint Manifesto Targets BJP in Pune Civic Polls
NCP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) factions release joint manifesto for Pune civic polls to challenge BJP dominance.
Nearly two and a half years after the NCP split in 2023, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) have come together, unveiling a joint manifesto ahead of the Pune civic polls. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and party MP Supriya Sule jointly presented the document, signaling a rare political reunion aimed at blunting BJP’s urban dominance.
The manifesto addresses key civic issues, including assured tap water supply, traffic decongestion, pothole-free roads, improved cleanliness, healthcare upgrades, pollution control, and slum rehabilitation. It also promises free travel on PMPML buses and metro, property tax waivers for homes up to 500 sq. ft., and free computer tablets for students, targeting urban voter concerns.
Ajit Pawar, despite his NCP being part of the BJP-led Mahayuti at the state and Centre, directly criticized local BJP leadership for stalled development in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The BJP, which controlled both civic bodies between 2017 and 2022, has decided to contest this election independently, making the contest more unpredictable.
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For Ajit Pawar, these polls are a personal and political test. He has actively overseen candidate selection, campaigned extensively in both cities, and even inducted former BJP corporators denied tickets. The unexpected NCP reunion has narrowed what initially appeared to be a comfortable BJP lead, making the race highly competitive.
BJP state leadership, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has downplayed the alliance, calling it a localised arrangement without formal merger. Fadnavis expressed confidence that the ruling Mahayuti coalition, comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, would perform strongly in key urban centres, including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mumbai, and Nashik.
Voting for the civic polls begins on January 15, with counting the following day. Political analysts say the outcome could have implications beyond Pune’s municipal map. A strong performance by the reunited NCP factions may challenge BJP’s urban strategy and fuel speculation about future political realignments in Maharashtra, while a BJP victory would affirm its organisational strength despite fragmented opposition alliances.
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