Pune, Jan 12 (NationPress) In the midst of intense campaigning for the forthcoming Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar clarified the motivations behind the surprising alliance between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

During an interview with a local TV station, Pawar detailed the strategic reasoning for uniting with the Sharad Pawar-led faction in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, emphasizing the essential objective of preventing a fragmentation of their shared vote bank.

He mentioned that he initially approached Eknath Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister, to explore a potential collaboration between their respective factions, given that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to run independently in the Pune elections.

"I inquired with Eknath Shinde about the possibility of contesting together, considering that the BJP was going solo. At that moment, he (Eknath Shinde) refused, stating his discussions with the BJP were still ongoing," Deputy CM Pawar remarked.

Pawar noted that Shinde reached out just before the 'AB' form (candidate nomination) deadline, proposing an alliance after his negotiations with the BJP fell through.

At that point, however, Deputy CM Pawar declined, having already announced his candidates, suggesting a last-minute change would incite internal dissent.

After failing to coordinate with Shinde's Shiv Sena in Pune, the two factions of the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, began discussions.

Pawar stressed that "arithmetic" was crucial for the reconciliation in this local body election.

He highlighted that if the factions contested separately, the division of loyal NCP supporters would ultimately benefit the BJP.

"In the end, the total number of seats secured is what counts. If these votes unite, our strength amplifies," he explained.

Despite speculation that Deputy CM Ajit Pawar insisted all candidates run under his 'Clock' symbol, he clarified his adaptable stance.

In regions where the Sharad Pawar faction held more influence, Ajit Pawar agreed to allow their candidates to take the lead.

He confirmed that high-level discussions occurred between himself, NCP-SP MP Amol Kolhe, and NCP MLA Rohit Pawar to finalize the seat-sharing agreement.

The political landscape in Maharashtra has been unstable since the 2023 split within the NCP, which saw Ajit Pawar joining the Mahayuti government in alliance with the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

Ajit Pawar's faction aligns with the BJP at the state level, yet local elections often witness unique "local adjustments".

In this case, the BJP's choice to contest the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections independently compelled other political stakeholders to reassess their strategies.

Political analysts suggest that the reunification of the "Two NCPs" for the Pune local elections signifies a crucial tactical shift, indicating that regional supremacy is prioritized by both factions over broader state-level alliances.