Move over, political drama—reality is about to get a whole lot more interesting. In a move that has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s corridors of power, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has officially announced an NCP alliance with his uncle, party patriarch Sharad Pawar, for the upcoming Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections. At a packed rally, Ajit Pawar declared, “Parivar is coming together,” signaling a potential end to the bitter family and political feud that has defined state politics since the party’s dramatic split in 2023 .
This isn’t just a family reunion; it’s a calculated political masterstroke with major implications for the PCMC elections 2025 and beyond. Let’s dive deep into what this means, how we got here, and what to expect next.
Table of Contents
- The Great Pawar Reunion: What’s Behind the NCP Alliance?
- From Split to Seat-Sharing: The Timeline of a Political Feud
- Why PCMC, Why Now? The Strategic Significance
- What’s Next: The Imminent Seat-Sharing Pact
- Conclusion: A New Chapter for Maharashtra’s Politics?
- Sources
The Great Pawar Reunion: What’s Behind the NCP Alliance?
The official declaration of the NCP alliance is more than just a headline; it’s a seismic shift. For over two years, the Nationalist Congress Party has existed as two separate entities: Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which is part of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) government, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), which sits in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) .
Now, they are setting aside their differences to present a united front in the PCMC polls. This move is being framed as a family decision (“Parivar”) for the “greater good of Maharashtra” . But political analysts see a more pragmatic strategy at play. By joining forces, the Pawars can consolidate their traditional vote bank in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region, preventing a three-way split that would have benefited their rivals, particularly the BJP and Shiv Sena factions.
From Split to Seat-Sharing: The Timeline of a Political Feud
To fully appreciate the weight of this announcement, you need to understand the history. The NCP’s split in July 2023 was one of the most dramatic events in recent Indian politics. Ajit Pawar, then a key MVA leader, dramatically broke away with a majority of the party’s MLAs to join the Eknath Shinde-led government, a move that effectively toppled the MVA alliance .
The Election Commission subsequently awarded the party name and symbol to Ajit Pawar’s faction, leaving Sharad Pawar to lead the rump party as NCP (SP) . Despite the public acrimony, reports have long suggested that family ties remained strong behind closed doors . This Pawar family reunion for the civic polls is the first concrete public manifestation of that private unity.
Why PCMC, Why Now? The Strategic Significance
The choice of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation as the testing ground for this new alliance is no accident. PCMC is a crucial urban local body, governing a major industrial and residential hub adjacent to Pune. It’s a symbol of political prestige and a key indicator of public sentiment in the region.
Furthermore, the PCMC elections 2025 are part of a larger set of municipal corporation polls across Maharashtra scheduled for January 15, 2026 [[5], [26]]. A strong showing here would give the newly formed NCP alliance immense momentum heading into these broader elections. It’s a low-risk, high-reward strategy: if they succeed, they rebuild their brand; if they fail, the blame can be shared without damaging their respective state-level positions.
What’s Next: The Imminent Seat-Sharing Pact
Ajit Pawar has confirmed that the formal seat-sharing agreement between the two NCP factions will be finalized within the next two days . This negotiation will be a fascinating watch, as it will reveal the true power dynamics within the newly reunited “Parivar.” Key questions include:
- How many PCMC wards will each faction contest?
- Will the alliance use a common symbol, or will they run under their respective banners?
- What will be the official campaign message? Will it be purely about local development, or will it carry a subtle anti-BJP/anti-Shiv Sena (Shinde) undertone?
The answers to these questions will provide a clear roadmap for how this NCP Sharad Pawar Ajit Pawar coalition intends to operate in the future, potentially setting a precedent for other Maharashtra civic polls.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Maharashtra’s Politics?
The announcement of the NCP alliance for the PCMC elections is a classic example of politics making strange bedfellows—or, in this case, reuniting a fractured family. While the immediate goal is to win a crucial civic body election, the long-term implications are far more significant. This move could signal a potential realignment of political forces in Maharashtra, challenging the dominance of the current ruling coalition and offering a renewed, albeit complex, alternative to voters. One thing is for sure: the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is about to become the epicenter of Maharashtra’s next major political drama. Keep a close eye on those seat-sharing talks—they will tell us everything we need to know about the future of the Pawar Parivar and the state’s political landscape.
For more on the evolving political scene in the state, see our analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:maharashtra-political-landscape-2025].
Sources
- Times of India. (2025). ‘Parivar coming together’: NCP announces alliance with Sharad Pawar faction; seat-sharing pact soon. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/parivar-coming-together-ajit-pawars-ncp-announces-alliance-with-sharad-pawar-faction-for-pcmc-polls-seat-sharing-pact-soon/articleshow/126222388.cms
- India Today. (2023, July 3). Explained: How Ajit Pawar’s move echoes Sharad Pawar’s own history .
- The Hindu. (2025, December 29). Maharashtra: NCP factions stitch alliance for Pimpri-Chinchwad polls .
- State Election Commission, Maharashtra. (2025, December). Official Election Schedule for Municipal Corporations [[26], [27]].