Reunion Signals? Ajit Pawar’s Marathi Quip Hints at Possible Pawar Family Truce
Sugar remark fuels merger speculation before civic polls.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ignited intense political speculation on January 3, 2026, during his press conference focused on the forthcoming municipal corporation elections, by responding to queries about reconciliation with the Sharad Pawar-led faction using the idiomatic Marathi phrase "May there be sugar in your mouth," widely interpreted as a subtle yet positive signal toward mending ties.
The enigmatic remark, delivered with characteristic ambiguity, assumes greater weight against the backdrop of recent pragmatic alliances forged between the two bitterly divided Nationalist Congress Party groups, which have agreed to contest jointly in key urban centers including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, signaling a temporary thaw in hostilities that followed the acrimonious party split in 2023.
This electoral cooperation represents a notable shift from previous confrontations, where the factions clashed directly in multiple battles ranging from the Lok Sabha polls featuring Supriya Sule versus Sunetra Pawar, to Assembly contests pitting Ajit Pawar's nephew Yugendra Pawar against his own camp, and numerous local body elections conducted separately amid mutual accusations.
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Key negotiations gained momentum during an event in Baramati last Sunday, where Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar reportedly held sideline discussions at the inauguration of the Sharadchandra Pawar Artificial Intelligence Institute attended by prominent industrialist Gautam Adani, paving the way for seat-sharing formulas and unified campaigning efforts despite earlier disputes over the prominent display of Sharad Pawar's images on promotional materials.
As Pimpri-Chinchwad heads to polls on January 15, 2026, alongside 28 other municipal corporations with vote counting scheduled for the subsequent day, observers closely watch whether this tactical understanding for civic contests could evolve into broader political realignment, though both leaders maintain public silence on any permanent merger prospects.
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