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Congress firm on contesting Pune Municipal Corporation elections independently: Alliance with Ajit Pawar rejected
Pune, December 26, 2025: As political equations shift in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress party has taken the significant decision to contest independently. The Congress has clearly rejected any alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). This has dealt a blow to the NCP's efforts to form an anti-BJP front, and it is being speculated that the division of votes could indirectly benefit the BJP.
Similar to Mumbai, the Congress has decided to contest the elections alone in Pune as well. This decision was taken at a meeting of senior party leaders. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Pune in-charge MLA Satej Patil, former Leader of the Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, and other local leaders were present at the meeting. The leaders opined that it is not possible to ally with Ajit Pawar as the NCP is currently in power in the Mahayuti alliance.
Only 358 candidates attended the interview process for the elections. The Pune Municipal Corporation has a total of 165 seats, and it has become difficult to find willing candidates in many wards. In the last five-year term, the Congress had won only 9 seats. Now, the question is being raised whether this number will increase while contesting independently.
Meanwhile, there is unrest among the original BJP workers due to the influx of leaders from other parties. The Congress plans to take these disgruntled leaders along and give momentum to its independent campaign. City President Arvind Shinde said, "We will not go with Ajit Pawar. We will fight with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, but if the MNS joins, we will not fight with Raj Thackeray."
Although discussions on seat-sharing are underway between both factions of the NCP, the Congress's decision will give a new turn to the situation. The election is scheduled for January 15, and there is anticipation about what further developments will unfold on the political stage.
Pune, December 26, 2025: As political equations shift in the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress party has taken the significant decision to contest independently. The Congress has clearly rejected any alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). This has dealt a blow to the NCP's efforts to form an anti-BJP front, and it is being speculated that the division of votes could indirectly benefit the BJP.
Similar to Mumbai, the Congress has decided to contest the elections alone in Pune as well. This decision was taken at a meeting of senior party leaders. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Pune in-charge MLA Satej Patil, former Leader of the Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, and other local leaders were present at the meeting. The leaders opined that it is not possible to ally with Ajit Pawar as the NCP is currently in power in the Mahayuti alliance.
Only 358 candidates attended the interview process for the elections. The Pune Municipal Corporation has a total of 165 seats, and it has become difficult to find willing candidates in many wards. In the last five-year term, the Congress had won only 9 seats. Now, the question is being raised whether this number will increase while contesting independently.
Meanwhile, there is unrest among the original BJP workers due to the influx of leaders from other parties. The Congress plans to take these disgruntled leaders along and give momentum to its independent campaign. City President Arvind Shinde said, "We will not go with Ajit Pawar. We will fight with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, but if the MNS joins, we will not fight with Raj Thackeray."
Although discussions on seat-sharing are underway between both factions of the NCP, the Congress's decision will give a new turn to the situation. The election is scheduled for January 15, and there is anticipation about what further developments will unfold on the political stage.
Similar to Mumbai, the Congress has decided to contest the elections alone in Pune as well. This decision was taken at a meeting of senior party leaders. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Pune in-charge MLA Satej Patil, former Leader of the Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, and other local leaders were present at the meeting. The leaders opined that it is not possible to ally with Ajit Pawar as the NCP is currently in power in the Mahayuti alliance.
Only 358 candidates attended the interview process for the elections. The Pune Municipal Corporation has a total of 165 seats, and it has become difficult to find willing candidates in many wards. In the last five-year term, the Congress had won only 9 seats. Now, the question is being raised whether this number will increase while contesting independently.
Meanwhile, there is unrest among the original BJP workers due to the influx of leaders from other parties. The Congress plans to take these disgruntled leaders along and give momentum to its independent campaign. City President Arvind Shinde said, "We will not go with Ajit Pawar. We will fight with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, but if the MNS joins, we will not fight with Raj Thackeray."
Although discussions on seat-sharing are underway between both factions of the NCP, the Congress's decision will give a new turn to the situation. The election is scheduled for January 15, and there is anticipation about what further developments will unfold on the political stage.
