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PMC elections: As alliance talks with NCP collapses, Sharad Pawar’s party rushes back to MVA, three parties to get equal seats

NCP state chief however says discussions still underway with NCP (SP)

Written by: Ajay Jadhav, Manoj Dattatrye More

5 min readPuneUpdated: Dec 29, 2025 01:39 PM IST

MP Supriya Sule, the working president of the NCP (SP), confirmed the development. (File Photo)

THE TALKS between the NCP and the NCP (SP) over a possible alliance for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections have fallen through, with the Sharad Pawar-led party rushing to renew ties with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and resuming discussions Friday evening.

MP Supriya Sule, the working president of the NCP (SP), confirmed the development. “Yes, our alliance discussion with the NCP has broken down. There will be no alliance,” Sule told The Indian Express on Saturday.

The discussions reportedly broke down after the NCP insisted that the NCP (SP) candidates contest on their ‘clock’ symbol. The NCP (SP) refused, contending that theirs was a separate party with a separate identity.

“We had not declared plans of contesting PMC elections with NCP. The NCP had approached us and we conveyed to them that the NCP (SP) will contest civic polls with partners of Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) which are MVA partners,” said NCP (SP) spokesperson Ankush Kakade.

Incidentally, an NCP (SP) delegation had met NCP chief Ajit Pawar on their plans of seats in seat-sharing arrangement but the NCP instead offered very less seats which were not acceptable for NCP (SP).

Kakade said the NCP (SP) always wanted to contest civic polls in Pune in alliance with MVA partners but the Congress had suddenly declared to contest independently.

MVA leaders from the Congress, the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) held seat-sharing discussions at a Pune hotel late on Friday. “Our relations with the Maha Vikas Aghadi are intact…our discussions have been going on,” Sule said.

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However, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said, the discussions with NCP (SP) are still going on. ”As per my information, the discussions are still underway. Our president Ajit Pawar has been handling Pune city affairs since 1999 and even now, he is holding discussions with NCP (SP) leaders,” Tatkare said.

Pune city Congress president Arvind Shinde said the Maha Vikas Aghadi discussions have got under. ”Besides Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders attended the meetings yesterday and today,” he said.

The Congress said out of the 165 PMC seats, each of the three parties will get same number 50-55 seats. ”All the three parties are equally strong. Each one will get same number seats,” he said.

Asked about the possible entry of Raj Thackeray-led MNS, Shinde said, “MNS is not part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi…We have told the Sena as well about it.”

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Meanwhile, even as the MVA started its discussion, the NCP (SP) made it clear that they would like to contest all the seats which their candidates had won in 2017 which includes the seats won by Prashant Jagtap and his mother.

“The NCP (SP) demanded that the seat from where Prashant Jagtap was elected should be given to them,” said Congress spokesperson Ramesh Iyer.

On Friday, former Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap switched sides from the NCP (SP) to the Congress after being upset over a possible alliance between the two NCP factions. “The only criteria of seat sharing will be winning capability,” Shinde said, adding the seat for Prashant Jagtap in Wanowrie will be contested by Congress.

Asked if the NCP (SP) had demanded Jagtap’s seat, Sule said, “I don’t know…But we are demanding the seats which we had won in the last election.”

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A Congress leader said the party will not give up the seats held by Jagtap and his mother. “This issue will go to our state leadership,” the leader added.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the discussions between the two NCP factions have come to a standstill over the number of seats sought by Sharad Pawar’s party. “They had initially demanded 27 seats and are now seeking 23. It is impossible to give them so many seats when they have only two former corporators with them,” Yogesh Behl, Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP president, said.

Meanwhile, welcoming Prashant Jagtap into the party, city Congress chief Arvind Shinde said, “While exiting his previous party, Jagtap did not criticise it. He did not say a word against his earlier party neither did say anything against any party leader. I want to appreciate his behaviour. He is indeed a large-hearted leader.”

Shinde said Jagtap has joined Congress without putting any conditions. ”When I was the corporator, Jagtap was the mayor. I know him very well…His joining the Congress has strengthened the party. The Congress will show him the respect he deserves,” he said.

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Shinde said Jagtap has full information about all the 165 seats. ”We will get important feedback and advice from him regarding all these seats. It will help us in selecting the candidates,” he said.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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

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