NCP-SP to contest Mumbai polls with MVA, says party

Amid buzz of a reunion between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) president Shashikant Shinde on Tuesday said that the party will contest the upcoming municipal elections in Mumbai as a part of the Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

“Our core committee has been discussing with all the parties, including Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. After today’s meeting, we have decided to contest the elections in Mumbai as a part of MVA,” he said.

For the first time, NCP-SP has spoken about contesting as part of the MVA. Till now, the MVA allies – Shiv Sena, NCP-SP, and Congress – have been exploring other arrangements for the polls scheduled on January 15.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Mr. Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), have spoken about forming an alliance for the elections. However, the NCP-SP has not announced any such tie-up with Mr. Uddhav. The Congress has been reluctant to join such an alliance due its ideological differences with the MNS.

NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule said the party has been in touch with Mr. Uddhav and the Congress for an alliance. “Our effort is that both Thackeray brothers and MVA should fight together. So that there is no division of votes,” she said.

There have been talks of an alliance between the NCP-SP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, strongholds of the NCPs. This is also the first municipal elections after the 2022 split in the undivided party.

Mr. Ajit’s NCP is likely to fight against its ally the BJP in the Pune polls where 165 seats are at stake. NCP has been exploring the possibility of an alliance with the NCP-SP and Mr. Ajit may announce the alliance on December 26. However, Ms. Sule said that she was not aware about it. “Ajit Pawar is a responsible leader, so he must have said it thoughtfully. However, no such official proposal has been received,” she added.

Mr. Shinde reiterated that many office-bearers in Pune expressed their willingness to join the Ajit Pawar group in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

In Thane, Mr. Ajit has decided to fight the polls alone saying that there has been no invitation from the BJP and Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) over seat-sharing arrangements. Party spokesperson Anand Paranjape said, “We are ready to contest with Mahayuti if they ask us. Otherwise, we will contest solo on all the 131 seats.”