Premium

In a first, two factions of NCP join hands for Kolhapur local body poll

Days after Sharad Pawar urged his leaders to ally with all except BJP, the NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP have joined hands for the Chandgad Nagar Panchayat polls in Kolhapur.

3 min readUpdated: Nov 11, 2025 05:52 AM IST

Congress called the local-level alliance “expected” in civic elections.

The rival NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar have come together for the Chandgad Nagar Panchayat polls, forming the ‘Shahar Vikas Aghadi’. (Express Photo)

Days after NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar asked his party leaders to join hands with other parties except BJP in the local self-government body polls, the two factions of the NCP, in a first of its kind move, have joined hands for the Chandgad Nagar Panchayat polls. Congress, the alliance partner of NCP (SP) said, this was bound to happen in local self government body polls.

The announcement about the poll fight alliance, polling of which is scheduled for next month, was made by NCP leader and Mahayuti Minister Hasan Mushrif in Kolhapur on Monday. Mushrif addressed the press conference in the presence of NCP (SP) leader Nandatai Bhabhulkar and Rajesh Patil of the NCP. They earlier held a meeting in Gadhinglaj where they decided to set up their alliance, Shahar Vikas Aghadi.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhabulkar and Patil said they came together based on a progressive ideology. Rajesh Patil, on the other hand, said several leaders from Congress will be joining the party.

Expressing his satisfaction on the two factions’ union, Mushrif said, “Our unity will ensure our victory in the Nagar Panchayat elections. There are other parties and leaders who are ready to join hands with us.”
The alliance comes at a time when there is fierce rivalry between them at the state level.

Reacting to the development, Congress MLC Satej Patil said, “It is not a big deal. Such alliances will happen in local self government body polls. Actually, it has already happened in several places in the state, but since Mushrif held the press conference, everyone came to know about it.”

In 2023, Ajit Pawar had parted ways with his uncle and formed a separate group with 40 MLAs. He then joined hands with BJP and Shiv Sena to form Mahayuti. The Election Commission later recognised Ajit Pawar’s group and gave it the party identity and symbol. The Sharad Pawar led group was given the name NCP (SP). Since then, the two have fought elections, including Lok Sabha and Assembly, against each other across the state.

At Sunday’s core committee meeting of NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar urged party leaders to tie up with like-minded parties, except the BJP. He also asked the party to field original OBC candidates in seats reserved for OBCs. He said where ever OBC candidates are not available, those Kunbi certificates should be fielded from there, said a party leader.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
NCP

Loading Taboola...