Speaking at a campaign rally, Ajit Pawar said the 'clock' and 'tutari' symbols have united for the January 15 polls. "The family has come together again," he told supporters, emphasising development over controversy.
Seat-sharing details remain pending but will be finalised soon. The tie-up extends to Pune Municipal Corporation polls, confirmed NCP (SP) leaders, driven by local workers' demands.This marks the first collaboration since Ajit Pawar's 2023 split, when he joined the Mahayuti government with BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.
The Election Commission awarded Ajit Pawar's group the original NCP name and clock symbol in 2024, allotting Sharad Pawar's faction the tutari. In recent assembly elections, Ajit Pawar's NCP won 41 seats as part of Mahayuti, while Sharad Pawar's secured 10 with Maha Vikas Aghadi.
Mahayuti dominates Mumbai civic seat-sharing, with BJP contesting 128 and Shinde Sena 79 of 227 wards. Elections for 29 municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, occur January 15, with counting the next day. The move signals tactical unity in Pawar strongholds amid Mahayuti's recent local body successes.
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