In a political turn that has caught Maharashtra by surprise, estranged uncle-nephew duo Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar have announced an alliance for the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections. The move marks a rare reunion of the powerful Pawar family, nearly a year and a half after their high-profile political split.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar made the announcement on Sunday while campaigning in Pimpri-Chinchwad, declaring that the “parivar” has come together for the civic elections scheduled on January 15.

“For the sake of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, the ‘clock' and the ‘tutari' (trumpet) have united. The parivar has come together,” Ajit Pawar said, referring to the election symbols of the two party factions.

Calling for unity among party workers, Ajit Pawar urged leaders and supporters from both factions to avoid controversial statements and focus on development issues. He asserted that their alliance aims to bring stability and growth to the civic body, which he claimed had been pushed into financial trouble by previous administrations.

“We are the ones who work for development. We will edge out those who tried to put this municipal corporation in debt,” he said.

Pune alliance on the cards

The Pimpri-Chinchwad tie-up may just be the beginning. Sources confirmed that talks are currently underway between the two NCP factions for a possible alliance in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections as well.

Earlier in the day, members of the Pawar family were seen together in Baramati, adding to the symbolism of the political thaw. Industrialist Gautam Adani inaugurated the Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence at the event, which Sharad Pawar attended along with family members.

When are the civic elections in Maharashtra

Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. The deadline for filing nominations is December 30. 

A rift that shook Maharashtra politics

The Pawar family broke up in July 2023, when Ajit Pawar, backed by several MLAs, split from the NCP and joined the BJP-led Mahayuti government, which also includes the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. He was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister shortly thereafter.

The division was widely attributed to ideological differences, leadership ambitions, and strategic disagreements, particularly Ajit Pawar’s support for aligning with the BJP, a move Sharad Pawar had openly opposed. Reports also suggested that Ajit Pawar felt his political growth was being constrained within the party.