29 December,2025 02:41 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar
With Maharashtra civic polls just around the corner, the NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday clarified about his party contesting the elections with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Rohit Pawar, while talking to the media on Monday, said that the decision for both Nationalist Congress Party factions to contest the upcoming municipal elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad was taken at the local level, following extensive consultations with party workers.
While speaking to the media, Pawar asserted that the discussions were held with grassroots workers from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, including NCP (SP) leader and MP Supriya Sule.
Pawar emphasised, "After speaking with all the party workers, Supriya Sule herself also interacted with the workers from Pune. Subsequently, discussions were also held with workers from Pimpri Chinchwad."
While justifying NCP (SP)'s decision to contest the election in alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, MLA Rohit Pawar said, "This is a fight between the workers and their election. Therefore, after listening to their views and understanding their concerns, it was decided that both NCP factions (Ajit Pawar's NCP and NCP-Sharad Chandra Pawar) will contest the polls together in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. However, both parties will contest on their respective symbols."
The NCP (SP) MLA further said it was jointly decided that the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and NCP-SCP would contest the civic polls together in both cities. However, he clarified that the two parties would continue to fight the elections on their respective symbols.
Amid the speculations made over NCP (SP) and NCP coming together, Rohit Pawar stressed that the alliance has been specifically for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation elections and should not be seen as a broader political alliance.
"This decision has been taken only for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, and that too after listening to the local workers and with their consent. Pawar Saheb is not involved in this entire decision-making process," Rohit Pawar added.
Pawar further reiterated that the alliance reflects grassroots sentiment and has been formed solely to strengthen the party's prospects in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls.
Hinting that the decision has been taken on the basis of local party leaders, Rohit also said, "Senior leaders have never directly participated in municipal corporation elections. He only said that the views of those who fought for us should be heard and understood, and that decisions should be taken in accordance with what the workers decide. Therefore, this alliance has been formed in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad."
