Are Pawars Joining Hands For Pune Civic Polls? Talks Collapse After Ajit Offers Only 35 Seats

A high-stakes meeting between Ajit Pawar's NCP and his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction of NCP ended in a stalemate, NDTV reported citing sources.

The discussion, centered on the upcoming January 15 civic polls, collapsed over the specifics of seat-sharing. Sources indicate that the younger Pawar offered a deal that was essentially a non-starter for the veteran leader: the Sharad Pawar faction was allocated 35 seats, with the added stipulation that they must campaign under the Ajit-led faction's "clock" symbol.

Sharad Pawar's camp rejected these terms and exited the negotiations. This breakdown follows the surprising alliance between cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray (MNS), who have joined forces to capture the lucrative Pune civic body. In response to the failed talks with his nephew, Sharad Pawar returned to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fold, initiating discussions with the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena to finalize a unified front.

The "Blood is Thicker" Merger
Despite the friction in Pune, a more profound realignment appears to be brewing behind closed doors, as per a report in The New Indian Express. Rumours are intensifying regarding a total merger between the two NCP factions. According to insiders, a family consensus is forming that would see Sharad Pawar retire from active politics following the conclusion of his Rajya Sabha term in April 2026.

The proposed blueprint for the "New NCP" involves a clear division of labor:

Ajit Pawar: Entrusted with the leadership of the party within Maharashtra and state-level governance.

Supriya Sule: Positioned to lead the party's national interests in Delhi, potentially securing a Union Ministry post.

This strategy is viewed by many as a pragmatic way to preserve the Pawar legacy against the rising influence of the BJP in their traditional strongholds of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. By stepping back, Sharad Pawar can maintain his "secular" credentials while allowing the younger generation to navigate the pragmatic necessity of an alliance with the BJP.

However, the prospect of a merger has not been met with universal acclaim. Within the Sharad Pawar camp, several leaders-who have spent months criticizing Ajit Pawar's alignment with the BJP-are now feeling sidelined or betrayed.