Overview
- Rohit Pawar confirmed a Pune Municipal Corporation tie-up a day after Ajit Pawar announced a joint fight in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
- A reported Pune seat split gives Ajit Pawar’s NCP 125 wards and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) 40, with candidates contesting on the clock and tutari symbols and no merger planned.
- Leaders framed the pact as a way to prevent vote splits and mount a stronger challenge to the BJP in traditional NCP bastions.
- The move drew pushback from Maha Vikas Aghadi partners as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut sought clarity, while Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) announced their own PMC alliance with an initial 60–45 seat plan.
- With nominations closing on December 30 and polling on January 15, the pact has already triggered local churn, including the exit of former NCP (SP) Pune chief Prashant Jagtap to Congress.