PUNE, January 13, 2024 – Cousins Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule, onc estranged after a family and party split, publicly shared a stage Saturday to unveil a joint manifesto for the upcoming Pune civic polls. The unexpected show of unity raises questions about a potential merger of their Nationalist Congress Party factions, though both leaders remained tight-lipped on the matter.
NCP Factions Unite for Pune Elections, Merger remains Uncertain
The alliance between the two NCP factions exists despite their opposing positions in state and central governments.
- Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule released a joint manifesto for the Pune civic elections.
- The alliance between the two NCP factions exists despite their opposing positions in state and central governments.
- Both leaders declined to comment directly on the possibility of a full merger.
- Disappointment was expressed by some party workers on both sides following the alliance announcement.
What’s driving this unlikely alliance between the NCP factions? The move appears strategically aimed at maximizing electoral gains in the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation elections, scheduled for January 15, despite the two parties currently occupying opposite sides of the political spectrum in both the state and national governments. NCP supports the governing alliances, while NCP (SP) is in the opposition.
The alliance isn’t without its detractors. Some party workers from both sides voiced disappointment, a sentiment acknowledged by Sule. “When any alliance is formed, some party workers get disappointed,” she said. “But we will not leave them on their own. On both sides of the alliance, our focus is on workers and not on netas.”
Ajit Pawar took the lead in the campaign, with Sule promising to follow his direction. “She told me to take the lead in the campaign as I am older to her and promised that she would follow me,” Pawar explained.This dynamic was on display during the manifesto release, a stark contrast to the pointed criticisms exchanged during the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls following the NCP split in July 2023.
the split led Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) to file a legal challenge against Ajit Pawar’s NCP, contesting ownership of the party name and its iconic “clock” symbol. When questioned about the timing of potential reunification while the court case remains unresolved, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar stated, “we respect the court’s order and follow it. As far as the solution to the issue is concerned, Supriya and I will sit together and find it on our own; nobody else needs to bother about it.”
The display of unity between the cousins, after a period of visible friction, suggests a willingness to prioritize political pragmatism, at least for the purpose of these local elections. Whether this collaboration will evolve into a full-fledged merger remains to be seen, but the joint manifesto represents a significant step toward reconciliation.
