Political Earthquake in Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar Announces Family Unity, Sanjay Raut Targets ‘Uncle-Nephew’ Alliance Against BJP

Mumbai: A major political stir has hit Maharashtra as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced that his family is contesting elections together, signaling a strategic move ahead of municipal polls. Following this announcement, both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have decided to contest the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections in alliance against the BJP.

This development comes after the formation of the ‘Thackeray Brothers’ faction, creating ripples in the state’s political landscape. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized the move, pointing out the emerging ‘uncle-nephew’ collaboration targeting BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Raut remarked, “Ajit Pawar must answer BJP, as he is now aligning with Sharad Pawar, against whom the BJP is contesting. Amit Shah and Sharad Pawar should respond to this.”

Alliance and Strategy:
Ajit Pawar shared the stage with his uncle Sharad Pawar in Baramati during a rally attended by industrialist Gautam Adani. Later, Ajit Pawar announced that both NCP factions will contest together in Pimpri-Chinchwad, marking the first time since the party split that the two sides are contesting jointly. He indicated that seat-sharing arrangements will soon be finalized.

Addressing party supporters, Pawar said, “The family is coming together because people wanted it. We come from a farming background, and agriculture is in our blood. Some decisions must be made in the larger interest of Maharashtra.”

Pimpri-Chinchwad Focus:
The alliance will contest under NCP’s “Clock” symbol and Sharad Pawar faction’s “Turhi” symbol. Pawar also announced candidates for Ward 12, historically strong for undivided NCP in the 2017 elections. The candidates include Pankaj Bhalekar, Sharad Bhalekar, Seema Bhalekar, and Charulata Sonawane.

Historically, the undivided NCP and Congress governed Pimpri-Chinchwad between 1992 and 1999, while NCP alone controlled it from 1999 to 2017. In 2017, the BJP won 77 out of 128 seats, taking control of the municipal body, with NCP finishing second.

With this renewed alliance, Maharashtra’s political landscape is set for intense competition, as the two NCP factions join forces to reclaim influence in key urban centers.