Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday sought to clarify the political significance of his recent reunion with his uncle, veteran leader Sharad Pawar, stressing that the move was driven by practical electoral considerations and would not impact his relationship with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis or the stability of the ruling coalition in the state.

Speaking in an interview with news agency ANI, Ajit Pawar addressed speculation surrounding the decision of the two rival NCP factions to come together for the upcoming civic body elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. He said the understanding between the factions was based on a “joint election strategy” aimed at avoiding vote division and maximising the party’s chances of winning key local bodies.

According to Pawar, the decision was largely influenced by feedback from grassroots workers who feared that a divided contest would benefit rival parties. “The workers knew that if they contested against each other, the votes would be split. That was something they wanted to avoid at all costs,” he said. He added that party cadres on both sides were keen on ensuring victory in the civic polls rather than allowing internal rivalry to weaken their prospects.

The reunion of the Pawar family, even if limited to local elections, has drawn significant political attention in Maharashtra, given the dramatic split in the NCP in 2023 when Ajit Pawar led a faction into the ruling alliance with the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Since then, relations between the two camps have remained tense, with both sides staking claim to the party’s legacy, symbol and support base.

Ajit Pawar, however, played down the idea that the civic poll understanding marked a broader political reconciliation at the state level. He framed it instead as a pragmatic, localised arrangement focused on municipal governance rather than a signal of a larger realignment. “This is about winning civic body elections and responding to what our workers want on the ground,” he said, indicating that the cooperation was issue-specific and limited in scope.

The deputy chief minister also dismissed reports suggesting that he had instructed party workers to exclusively use the clock symbol, which is associated with his faction following the party split. Terming such claims as misleading, Pawar said, “I never said that,” rejecting what he described as incorrect statements and speculative media reports. His clarification was seen as an attempt to ease tensions among cadres of both factions ahead of the joint electoral exercise.

Questions have also been raised about whether the coming together of the two NCP factions for local polls could strain Ajit Pawar’s ties with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader and his ally in the state government. Addressing these concerns directly, Pawar was unequivocal. “No, it will not be affected. One hundred per cent it will not happen,” he said, asserting that his relationship with Fadnavis and his commitment to the ruling alliance remain intact.

By making this assertion, Pawar sought to reassure both his allies and supporters that the civic poll strategy would not translate into political instability or shifting loyalties at the state level. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Fadnavis, and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, has faced periodic speculation about internal contradictions and future equations, particularly with local body elections approaching.

Ajit Pawar also commented on the broader political atmosphere surrounding the civic polls, especially in Mumbai, where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are expected to be fiercely contested. He strongly criticised attempts to inject communal narratives into the municipal election campaign, saying such approaches were contrary to his personal beliefs and the ideological foundations of the NCP.

“I have a secular mindset,” Pawar said, adding that communal politics does not align with the values espoused by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Emphasising national unity, he said that all people living in the country are Indians, regardless of religion or background. At the same time, he asserted that anyone who commits treason against the country must face strict action, underlining a distinction between inclusivity and national security.

His remarks appeared aimed at countering polarising rhetoric that often surfaces during high-stakes civic elections, particularly in Mumbai, where identity politics, regional pride and communal issues have historically played a role in electoral mobilisation.

Ajit Pawar also hit back at opposition claims that the interests and identity of the “Marathi manush” were under threat. Responding sharply, he said such narratives were exaggerated and misleading. “It’s you whose existence is at stake. I want to say this again — you are not the whole Maharashtra. You are not the only Marathi here,” Pawar said, according to ANI.

He further asserted that the leadership of the BMC would remain with a Marathi person, dismissing fears that local identity would be sidelined. His comments were widely seen as a rebuttal to regional parties and leaders who have traditionally positioned themselves as sole protectors of Marathi pride and interests in Mumbai and other urban centres.

The political context of Ajit Pawar’s remarks is significant. Civic body elections in Maharashtra, particularly in major cities like Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, are often viewed as barometers of political strength and organisational reach. Control over municipal corporations not only brings administrative power but also access to substantial financial resources and grassroots influence.

For the NCP, which has faced internal fragmentation and legal battles over symbols and recognition, the decision to adopt a joint strategy in select civic polls reflects an attempt to retain relevance and prevent further erosion of its traditional support base. For Ajit Pawar personally, the move also represents a careful balancing act: maintaining his alliance with the BJP-led government while responding to pressures from party workers and local leaders who see cooperation with Sharad Pawar’s faction as electorally beneficial.

By repeatedly stressing that the understanding is limited to civic elections and will not affect state-level alliances, Ajit Pawar appears keen to project an image of political pragmatism rather than ideological inconsistency. His comments suggest an effort to separate local electoral tactics from broader coalition politics, a distinction that is often blurred in Maharashtra’s complex political landscape.

At the same time, the symbolic value of a Pawar family reunion, even a partial one, cannot be ignored. Sharad Pawar remains one of the most influential figures in Maharashtra politics, and any sign of coordination between the two camps inevitably fuels speculation about future realignments. Ajit Pawar’s categorical denials indicate that, at least for now, he wants to keep such speculation in check.

As Maharashtra heads into a crucial phase of local body elections, Ajit Pawar’s statements underline the fluidity and strategic calculations that define the state’s politics. Whether the joint strategy in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad delivers the desired results, and how it shapes perceptions of unity or division within the NCP, will be closely watched in the months ahead. For now, the deputy chief minister has made it clear that his civic poll tactics are driven by electoral arithmetic, not by any shift in his alliances at the top.