Overview
- Appearing together publicly for the first time since the 2023 NCP split, the cousins teamed up locally despite sitting in opposing alliances at the state and national levels.
- The platform promises assured tap water, traffic relief and pothole‑free roads, improved cleanliness and healthcare, pollution control and slum rehabilitation, plus free PMPML and metro travel, a property‑tax waiver for homes up to 500 sq ft, and tablets for students.
- Leaders framed the cooperation as limited to Pune and Pimpri‑Chinchwad, while Ajit Pawar’s “wait and watch” remark kept future tie‑ups open to interpretation and speculation about a wider reunion unconfirmed.
- Ruling‑alliance leaders pushed back, with Minister Chandrakant Patil calling free‑travel pledges “deceptive” and saying any such scheme requires a collective Mahayuti decision, as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis needled opponents at a Pimpri‑Chinchwad rally.
- In a parallel campaign move, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray held a joint Nashik rally attacking the BJP over leader poaching, planned tree‑cutting for a Kumbh ‘sadhugram,’ and unopposed seats; municipal voting is on January 15 with counting on January 16.