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PCMC Election 2026: Turmoil in Candidate List, Both NCP Factions in a Frenzy; BJP-Shinde Sena Also Troubled!
Pimpri-Chinchwad, January 1, 2026: Even though the deadline for filing nominations for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections has passed, major political parties are delaying the announcement of their official candidate lists. Despite more than 30 hours having passed, no party had made a clear announcement by Wednesday evening. Delays in alliance decisions, confusion in the distribution of 'Ab' forms (official party nomination forms), changes in candidates, and internal conflicts have created immense confusion among political parties.
Although both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar group and Sharad Pawar group) decided to contest jointly, this is not being implemented in practice. In some wards, there are instances of one group not having a candidate or both groups issuing 'Ab' forms. For example, a friendly contest has been decided for all four seats in Ward No. 9, while in Ward No. 20, the Ajit Pawar group will contest four seats and the Sharad Pawar group two. In Ward No. 18, the Ajit group has been allotted four seats and the Sharad group one.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initially fielded candidates on 123 seats, but three 'Ab' forms were cancelled, forcing those candidates to contest as independents. The Shinde Sena has had two 'Ab' forms cancelled and is directly contesting 69 seats and supporting four candidates. City presidents and key leaders are saying that "work is in progress, the list will be announced soon," but no one is willing to speak to the media.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi has completely broken down, although there is a possibility of the Sharad Pawar group and the Ajit Pawar group of the NCP coming together. The Uddhav Sena is contesting 59 seats, the MNS 17, and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (Rashtriya Samaj Party) 2 seats. The Congress, however, has fielded candidates independently on 58 seats, as seat-sharing talks with the Uddhav Sena failed. This entire confusion is likely to lead to a division of votes in many constituencies. "There will be a direct division of votes, and who benefits from it will only become clear on the day of the results," say political analysts. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty among party workers, voters, and candidates. The Ajit Pawar group announced its list on Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM, but the confusion continues within the BJP and the Shinde Sena.
In this election, there have been major changes in the equations of the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. Games of defection, disregarding loyalty, have been played out, making local politics even more complicated.
Pimpri-Chinchwad, January 1, 2026: Even though the deadline for filing nominations for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections has passed, major political parties are delaying the announcement of their official candidate lists. Despite more than 30 hours having passed, no party had made a clear announcement by Wednesday evening. Delays in alliance decisions, confusion in the distribution of 'Ab' forms (official party nomination forms), changes in candidates, and internal conflicts have created immense confusion among political parties.
Although both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar group and Sharad Pawar group) decided to contest jointly, this is not being implemented in practice. In some wards, there are instances of one group not having a candidate or both groups issuing 'Ab' forms. For example, a friendly contest has been decided for all four seats in Ward No. 9, while in Ward No. 20, the Ajit Pawar group will contest four seats and the Sharad Pawar group two. In Ward No. 18, the Ajit group has been allotted four seats and the Sharad group one.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initially fielded candidates on 123 seats, but three 'Ab' forms were cancelled, forcing those candidates to contest as independents. The Shinde Sena has had two 'Ab' forms cancelled and is directly contesting 69 seats and supporting four candidates. City presidents and key leaders are saying that "work is in progress, the list will be announced soon," but no one is willing to speak to the media.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi has completely broken down, although there is a possibility of the Sharad Pawar group and the Ajit Pawar group of the NCP coming together. The Uddhav Sena is contesting 59 seats, the MNS 17, and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (Rashtriya Samaj Party) 2 seats. The Congress, however, has fielded candidates independently on 58 seats, as seat-sharing talks with the Uddhav Sena failed. This entire confusion is likely to lead to a division of votes in many constituencies. "There will be a direct division of votes, and who benefits from it will only become clear on the day of the results," say political analysts. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty among party workers, voters, and candidates. The Ajit Pawar group announced its list on Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM, but the confusion continues within the BJP and the Shinde Sena.
In this election, there have been major changes in the equations of the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. Games of defection, disregarding loyalty, have been played out, making local politics even more complicated.
Although both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar group and Sharad Pawar group) decided to contest jointly, this is not being implemented in practice. In some wards, there are instances of one group not having a candidate or both groups issuing 'Ab' forms. For example, a friendly contest has been decided for all four seats in Ward No. 9, while in Ward No. 20, the Ajit Pawar group will contest four seats and the Sharad Pawar group two. In Ward No. 18, the Ajit group has been allotted four seats and the Sharad group one.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initially fielded candidates on 123 seats, but three 'Ab' forms were cancelled, forcing those candidates to contest as independents. The Shinde Sena has had two 'Ab' forms cancelled and is directly contesting 69 seats and supporting four candidates. City presidents and key leaders are saying that "work is in progress, the list will be announced soon," but no one is willing to speak to the media.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi has completely broken down, although there is a possibility of the Sharad Pawar group and the Ajit Pawar group of the NCP coming together. The Uddhav Sena is contesting 59 seats, the MNS 17, and the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (Rashtriya Samaj Party) 2 seats. The Congress, however, has fielded candidates independently on 58 seats, as seat-sharing talks with the Uddhav Sena failed. This entire confusion is likely to lead to a division of votes in many constituencies. "There will be a direct division of votes, and who benefits from it will only become clear on the day of the results," say political analysts. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty among party workers, voters, and candidates. The Ajit Pawar group announced its list on Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM, but the confusion continues within the BJP and the Shinde Sena.
In this election, there have been major changes in the equations of the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. Games of defection, disregarding loyalty, have been played out, making local politics even more complicated.
