Pune civic polls: Amid rumors of a Pawar Parivaar patch-up, Congress separates itself from the NCP (SP)
Pune civic polls: Amid rumors that the two Pawar groups would work together, the Maharashtra Congress has made the political decision to run independently in the January 15 elections for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, breaking with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Supriya Sule, the head of the NCP (SP), stressed that an agreement with Ajit Pawar’s side has not yet been finalized.
However, according to insiders, the two Pawar parties have already had two rounds of discussions, and a final statement is anticipated in the days ahead.
Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar called the proposed collaboration “unholy,” adding that “the Congress will not be part of this unholy alliance for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections if both the NCPs join hands.”
He went on to say that before requesting Congress assistance, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has to break with the BJP and leave the cabinet.
Wadettiwar’s comments emphasized the stark differences in ideology.
“In order to defeat the BJP in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the NCP wants the support of secular forces, which is completely impossible, but it enjoys power with the communal forces in the state and central government.” The Congress party will not compromise its progressive and secular principles in any manner. As a result, the Congress leadership will independently challenge these two surveys and demonstrate our strength,” he said.
“The NCP shared power with the Congress for more than 15 years, but it never tied up with the Congress for local body polls,” Sule said, highlighting the difference between state-level politics and local body elections. To foster and promote local leadership, local elections are conducted independently. This time, we also advised our local leaders and cadre to create an alliance depending on the conditions on the ground in their various regions. Since municipal elections vary greatly from state and Lok Sabha elections, party politics should not be practiced at the local level.
Meanwhile, there have been repercussions inside the party due to rumors of a possible NCP merger. Jagtap, the former mayor of Pune and president of the NCP (SP) headed by Sharad Pawar, resigned in protest, claiming ideological disagreements. He is expected to enter Congress, according to sources.