Zilla parishad poll results to test alliance and merger prospects of NCP factions, say experts

Kolhapur: The poll results of 12 zilla parishads, to be declared on Monday, are expected to be a litmus test for NCP and NCP(SP), which claim to be planning a merger after the local body elections, political experts and observers said. They said the results may give a decisive answer on whether the alliance has worked out and whether the merger should happen.For elections to zilla parishads, NCP fielded NCP(SP) candidates on its clock symbol mainly in Pune district and in some other parts of western Maharashtra. After the death of Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash, claims were made, especially by NCP(SP) politicians, that the arrangement to let their candidates contest on the clock symbol was the first step towards a merger. NCP functionaries, however, claimed their late leader engaged with NCP(SP) only to a limited extent for the zilla parishad elections.In Kolhapur district, NCP(SP) candidates had contested on the clock symbol in Ajara, Chandgad and Gadhinglaj tehsils. In Sangli district, both parties had an alliance, especially in Walva and Shirala tehsils, where NCP(SP) was contesting most seats. In Tasgaon tehsil, both NCP and NCP(SP) contested against each other, but their functionaries claimed it was a strategy to keep BJP from gaining ground. In Satara district, both parties jointly fielded candidates on their respective symbols. In Solapur district, NCP and NCP(SP) shared seats.Political observers said the main purpose of joining in one form or another was to ensure the division of votes did not happen, and the results are expected to shed light on whether the purpose was served.Shashikant Shinde, NCP(SP) state president, speaking to TOI, said, "We tried to avoid division of votes by ensuring an understanding at the local level. It will yield good results for us. Not just that, the passing away of Ajit Pawar created a wave of sympathy that will benefit both parties. As far as the decision to join Mahayuti to take charge in ZP (if there are hung results) is concerned, it will be taken by our party leader, Sharad Pawar."In previous elections, the undivided NCP had won in Pune and Satara, and became the single largest party in Solapur and Parbhani, but had poor results in other zilla parishads. This time, pollsters said the wave of sympathy will help NCP, especially in Pune, though the picture is not clear for other zilla parishads.Political experts said the results are expected to be a litmus test of the strategy both parties adopted and an opportunity to ponder the possibility of a merger.Ravindra Bhanage, professor at the political science department of SUK, speaking to TOI, said, "If the results come against the expected outcome, then the merger is unlikely. If the strategy yields results, then the Pawar family may get a chance to think over the possibility of a merger. However, the forces opposing the merger within NCP may cause friction and eventually a rift, which the parties in power will try to benefit from. Irrespective of the results, attempts will continue to manoeuvre in Pawar-held bastions, mainly by BJP."