Overview
- Ajit Pawar confirmed the two NCP groups will fight together only in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad corporations, calling the contest against the BJP tighter.
- He said there have been no discussions with Sharad Pawar on a merger, noting that politics has no permanent enemies.
- Ajit Pawar rejected allegations of “match-fixing” with the BJP and said the BJP chose to contest separately after holding many seats in these bodies.
- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis characterized the tie-up as a local, non-merger arrangement while declining to rule out a future reunion of the factions.
- Both sides said party workers pushed for the pact and local leaders handled seat-sharing ahead of the January 15 municipal elections.