India Morning News
Mumbai: With local body elections in Maharashtra officially announced, all political parties have begun their preparations. While Mahayuti parties may contest together in some places, they could go solo in others.
Amid this busy political backdrop, a major development has taken place in Kolhapur’s Chandgad, where the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions — Sharad Pawar group and Ajit Pawar group — have decided to join hands.
Former MLA Rajesh Patil and leader Nandatai Babhulkar will contest jointly under this new understanding, which was finalized through minister Hasan Mushrif’s mediation. The announcement was made in a joint press conference, creating a strong buzz in political circles.
Observers believe this alliance may influence future local poll strategies and could lead to more similar tie-ups across Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s core committee met on Sunday. Pawar instructed leaders that OBC-reserved seats must be given to genuine OBC candidates, and if suitable candidates are unavailable, those holding Kunbi certificates may be considered. The aim, he said, is to ensure fair and transparent candidate selection.
This unity between both factions has added a new twist to Maharashtra’s pre-election dynamics, signaling possible re-alignments within state politics.
