Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s first campaign visit to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for the upcoming municipal corporation elections has set off fresh political speculation about the future of the Nationalist Congress Party and its divided leadership. When asked by reporters whether the rival NCP factions could move towards reconciliation, Ajit Pawar responded with a light-hearted remark, fuelling renewed debate about unity within the party.

Speaking later in a televised interview, Ajit Pawar said that ground-level party workers from both camps were keen on coming together and that internal differences within the Pawar family were no longer an issue. His comments were seen as an attempt to lower political temperatures at a time when local leaders from both sides are actively working in the same region to protect their influence.

Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and surrounding areas have traditionally been strongholds of the Pawar family, making the civic elections particularly significant. With both NCP factions seeking to retain dominance in these urban centres, coordination at the local level has become unavoidable, even as the leadership remains divided at the state and national levels.

Adding to the discussion, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently expressed confidence that Ajit Pawar would remain part of the Maharashtra government until the end of the current term and continue as an alliance partner in future elections. Fadnavis also noted that Ajit Pawar’s faction is contesting the municipal polls with full intensity, alongside a strong campaign by the BJP.

However, unity signals have been met with caution from the other side of the Pawar family. Baramati MP Supriya Sule stated that any local understanding for civic polls is driven by workers’ demands and should not be read as a broader political settlement. She made it clear that there have been no formal talks on a long-term alliance and downplayed speculation around larger political realignments.

Sule also rejected rumours about her joining the NDA at the Centre or about NCP MLA Rohit Pawar entering the state government. Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Praful Patel firmly ruled out any possibility of joining hands with the Sharad Pawar-led faction, reiterating that his group remains committed to the BJP-led NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.