Family Reunites for Pune Elections: Can Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar’s Factions Join Hands?

In a dramatic political development ahead of Maharashtra’s civic elections, the Pawar family has reunited after an 18-month split, with Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar’s rival NCP factions coming together for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal polls. This marks the first political collaboration between the two camps since the Nationalist Congress Party split in July 2023.

On January 10, 2026, Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule (Sharad Pawar’s daughter) jointly unveiled a manifesto titled “Ashtasutri Pragati” (Eight-Point Progress), signaling a tactical truce aimed at defending the Pawar stronghold in western Maharashtra from BJP expansion.

Why the Pawars Reunited

The reunion was driven by pressure from party workers across both NCP factions, who feared losing Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad—two crucial political and economic hubs—to the BJP.

Ajit Pawar admitted that grassroots demand forced unity, stating that workers from both sides wanted to protect the party’s legacy in the region.

What the Joint Manifesto Promises

The Ashtasutri Pragati agenda focuses on urban voters and includes:

Completion of 33 missing road links
Free metro and bus travel
Hospitals within 2 km of every residential area
20% property tax rebate
Improved civic infrastructure

These promises target middle-class commuters and urban families—key voting blocs in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Not a Full NCP Merger—Yet

Despite the reunion, both factions remain officially separate:

Ajit Pawar’s NCP will contest under the “clock” symbol
Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP will use its own symbol

The alliance applies only to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. In the other 27 municipal corporations, both parties will compete against each other.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the move a tactical strategy rather than a real reunion, though he warned Maharashtra politics has a history of surprise alliances.

Tensions Inside the BJP-Led Mahayuti

The Pawar reunion has rattled the ruling alliance. Fadnavis accused Ajit Pawar of violating a “gentleman’s agreement” of friendly campaigning.

Ajit Pawar responded by attacking BJP governance, alleging:

₹4,000 crore unpaid bills in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
Inflated project costs and corruption

Fadnavis mocked the NCP’s free public transport promise, calling it financially unrealistic and sarcastically suggesting he should offer free flights next.

Will the NCP Fully Reunite?

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel ruled out any merger, insisting loyalty to PM Modi and the NDA remains firm. Supriya Sule also stated no long-term alliance has been discussed.

However, political analysts believe a full NCP reunion could: