Mumbai, Jan 10 (NationPress) In a bold counter to the BJP's attempts to undermine him over comments regarding the irrigation scam, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar is implementing a strategic “checkmate” maneuver against the BJP within the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations.

While both parties collaborate in the state-level Mahayuti government, the forthcoming civic elections on January 15 have transformed their alliance into an intense local competition. In a surprising move, Ajit Pawar has reconciled with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, specifically for the municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Despite the contentious split in 2023, both factions of the NCP have united locally. Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule shared the stage on Saturday to unveil a joint manifesto for Pune. By rallying the “Pawar Parivar” votes, Ajit Pawar has fortified the NCP's voter base, thwarting the BJP's potential advantage from divided Maratha and local loyalist support.

Ajit Pawar has initiated an assertive “Alarm Campaign” (Ek Alarm, Paach Kaam), focusing on the BJP’s term from 2017-2022 in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). He has publicly criticized the BJP for transforming PCMC — once among India’s wealthiest civic bodies — into a financially troubled entity. He highlighted that during NCP's governance, PCMC boasted fixed deposits of Rs 3,000 crore, now allegedly depleted due to mismanagement.

In a calculated strategy, Ajit Pawar has labeled local BJP leaders with terms like “corrupt demon” and “demonic hunger,” accusing them of inflating project costs for initiatives like CCTV and Smart City projects to benefit their party members. Recognizing the BJP's surplus of aspirants, Ajit Pawar is strategically recruiting BJP leaders who have been overlooked by their party. Noteworthy figures like Amol Balwadkar and Shankar Chinchwade have transitioned from BJP to NCP under his direction.

He is positioning the NCP as a “merit-based” option for local leaders feeling neglected by the BJP’s centralized approach. Ajit Pawar maintains a “friendly contest” image at the state level to protect himself from central BJP backlash, while being assertive locally. He has made it clear that his conflict is not with PM Modi or Devendra Fadnavis, but with the local BJP trio — Murlidhar Mohol, Ganesh Bidkar, and Chandrakant Patil.

He continually contrasts Pune’s current “traffic and water issues” with his own “6 a.m. work culture,” reminding voters of the infrastructure advancements during his 25-year reign in the area.

The BJP has responded sharply, with state chief Ravindra Chavan and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cautioning that discussing Ajit Pawar's past (in reference to the irrigation scam) could lead to “serious trouble” for him. However, by aligning with Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar has established a local “fortress” that the BJP finds challenging to penetrate without jeopardizing the stability of the state government.

Political analysts suggest that Ajit Pawar is leveraging the civic elections to reclaim his title as the “King of Pune,” signaling to the BJP that while they may be allies in Mumbai, Pune remains his undisputed dominion.