As the Pune Municipal Corporation elections approach, Maharashtra's political arena is buzzing with activity. Ajit Pawar, a leader of the ruling alliance Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the state's Deputy Chief Minister, has taken the initiative to propose a possible coalition with the opposition Congress.
According to PTI sources, on Sunday night, Ajit Pawar engaged in a phone conversation with senior Congress leader Satej Patil to discuss coordination possibilities for the Pune civic polls.
Sources indicate that during this discussion, Ajit Pawar proposed deliberations on seat sharing and a joint strategy with Congress. In response, Congress leader Satej Patil stated that decisions could only be made following internal party discussions, as Congress aims for a respectable share in the 165-seat Pune civic body.
Coalition Challenges Loom
However, sources also suggest that the path to this potential alliance is fraught with challenges. Congress seems reluctant to compromise on a fewer number of seats in the Pune civic body, believing the Lok Sabha seat of Pune falls under its domain in the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) seat-sharing formula. Thus, a strong performance in the municipal elections is deemed crucial for Congress to enhance its grassroots strength.
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This wariness discourages Congress from entering into a coalition where limited seats are acceptable. Meanwhile, it's clear that BJP and Ajit Pawar's NCP will contest the Pune Municipal elections independently.
Congress Weighs Multiple Options
Interestingly, while Congress is considering Ajit Pawar’s proposal, it's also in dialogues with its traditional MVA allies - Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP. Therefore, Congress's strategy before the Pune polls appears to hinge on navigating multiple fronts.
Political analysts believe that even if discussions progress, the primary hurdle will remain Congress's demand for a 'respectable share' of seats. This initiative by Ajit Pawar has undoubtedly set off speculation about new political alignments in Maharashtra.
