The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has decided to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections independently, signaling a clear break from alliance calculations in Mumbai’s fiercely contested civic battle. The party has identified nearly 100 wards where it plans to field candidates and has kickstarted its campaign by announcing its first list of 37 contenders.

NCP MLA Sana Malik confirmed that the decision to go solo was taken after consultations with the party’s top leadership. She said the party believes it has sufficient organisational strength and grassroots presence in Mumbai to fight the elections on its own and present an alternative political force in the country’s richest municipal body.

The first list highlights a strong presence of experienced local leaders as well as new faces. Members of the Malik family feature prominently, underlining the party’s focus on familiar and influential faces in key wards. Former corporators Kaptan Malik and Saeeda Arif Khan have been nominated again, while Bushra Malik, Kaptan Malik’s daughter-in-law, has been fielded for the first time, marking her electoral debut. Bushra will contest from a women-reserved ward, while Kaptan and Saeeda will fight from constituencies they have represented earlier.

The NCP has also given tickets to leaders who recently switched sides. Dhananjay Pisal, who quit the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, has been fielded soon after joining Ajit Pawar’s camp, reflecting the party’s strategy to attract leaders with local influence ahead of the polls.

Adding to the buzz, Ashish Mane, a close relative of Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has joined the NCP. Party sources indicate that Mane is likely to be named in the second list of candidates, strengthening the party’s outreach in select wards.

The decision to contest alone comes amid reported differences within the ruling alliance, especially over leadership roles in the BMC campaign. Despite objections from allies, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has made it clear that it will independently decide its leadership and electoral strategy.