Overview
- Ajit Pawar confirmed a joint contest with the Sharad Pawar-led faction for the Pimpri-Chinchwad polls, and NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar announced a similar alliance for Pune.
- Leaders stressed the cooperation is confined to these municipal elections and does not signal a merger of the two parties.
- Rohit Pawar said a seat-sharing formula has been agreed for Pune, with details to follow, and indicated the factions would field candidates on their respective symbols.
- Separately in Mumbai, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP released a first list of 37 BMC candidates and will contest the civic polls independently, as the BJP–Shinde Sena finalized seat-sharing on 207 of 227 wards.
- The moves triggered political ripples, including criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and the resignation of former NCP (SP) Pune chief Prashant Jagtap to join Congress, with nominations closing on December 30.