Hope rises for NCP groups to unite after tie-up for PMC, PCMC polls

Pune: After allegations of betrayal, approaching the courts, and making personal attacks against each other following the split in the party in 2023, the decision to ally between the two NCP groups has opened a window for a possible reunion on a larger political landscape.The senior leadership of both groups held a series of meetings in Pune before forming an alliance for PMC and PCMC, which was once dominated by the undivided NCP. The new alliance was formed against the backdrop of fierce battles the state witnessed between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar's NCPs during the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections where the Pawar family members contested against each other. However, leaving the bitterness behind, leaders of both groups decided to join hands for the civic bodies in Pune, which, according to political observers, may be an opportunity for reconciliation between them. Engineering a split in the NCP in July 2023, Ajit Pawar, along with several senior NCP members, joined BJP-Shiv Sena's Mahayuti. Since then, the Pawars from both sides either avoided each other or did not enter any conversation on public platforms. However, both sides softened their stances recently, and the Pawar family members could be seen in conversation even at public functions.Speaking to TOI, political analyst Prakash Pawar said, "They fought against each other in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, but the civic bodies are a different game. Considering the present situation, Sharad Pawar's party cannot succeed in contesting independently as its vote base has considerably reduced. On the other hand, Ajit Pawar's party has a bigger challenge from its own ally, the BJP. In order to take on such a formidable opponent, he required the support of the other parties in his home district. Therefore, the alliance between the NCPs took shape in PMC and PCMC. If this experiment works out well, both sides will be inclined to continue the tie-up in future too." Veteran politician Sharad Pawar has portrayed a secular ideology, and said that he would go with any party barring the BJP. Now, his party has formed an alliance with Ajit Pawar's NCP, which is an ally of the BJP both in the state and Centre, and the senior Pawar is not seen to be a part of the discussion. head: Milestones In 26 Years 1999 I Sharad Pawar expelled from Congress, forms Nationalist Congress Party 2000 I NCP gets national party status Nov 2019 I BJP-Shiv Sena govt in Maharashtra falls. NCP forms Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition with Shiv Sena and Congress and comes back to power May 2023 I Pawar announces that he will step down as party president but does not follow through July 2023 I Nephew Ajit Pawar splits the party and with several MLAs joins the Mahayuti govt led by the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, he also becomes the deputy chief minister Feb 2024 I ECI gives NCP's name and the clock symbol to Ajit Pawar and Pawar's group is called Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar). Its symbol is a tutari Both the groups will be eager to perform well as an alliance in PMC and PCMC, as talks of reconciliation may begin only if they taste success while contesting together. If the alliance gets the desired results, along with the senior leadership, there will be a push from the party workers too for a reunionPrakash Pawar I Political Analyst "Pawar Saheb is nowhere involved in the alliance discussion. He gave us advice to take all workers who fought for the party into confidence." Rohit Pawar I NCP (SP) state general secretary