NCP factions join forces to contest Pune Municipal Corporation elections

In a major development in Maharashtra politics, the Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have decided to reunite ahead of the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) spokesperson Ankush Kakade confirmed on Tuesday that both factions will contest the polls together. He added that seat-sharing discussions with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) , their allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), are yet to take place. "Ajit Pawar's faction and our faction's ideology are the same," Kakade said.

Meanwhile, NCP SP leader and Pune City Chief Prashant Jagtap has offered to resign from the party and his post. He has been called to Mumbai by senior leader Supriya Sule and will announce his final decision by the evening after consultations. Jagtap emphasised the importance of presenting the NCP as a strong opposition to the BJP in Pune.

This reunion marks a significant turn in Maharashtra politics, as it is the first time both NCP factions will contest an election together since Ajit Pawar broke away in 2023.

The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations across the state , including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Brihanmumbai, with polling on January 15, 2026 , and counting on January 16, 2026 .

In the meantime, the BJP has strengthened its position in Pune and surrounding regions by inducting around 20 former corporators and office bearers from other parties, including 12 leaders from Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction . Notable leaders who joined BJP include former PCMC Standing Committee chairperson Usha Waghere, ex-mayor Raju Misal, former deputy mayor Prabhakar Waghere, and former opposition leader Vinod Nade. Leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, including Sanjog Waghere and former Congress corporator Sadguru Kadam, have also joined the BJP.

These crossovers are expected to boost BJP’s organisational strength in Pune’s industrial and urban areas, making the elections highly competitive. With the Model Code of Conduct already in force , all parties are intensifying ward-level campaigning ahead of the polls.

The reunion of the NCP factions, combined with potential MVA alliances, sets the stage for a high-stakes civic election in Pune and surrounding regions, with both the BJP and opposition parties aiming to consolidate their voter base.