Sharad Pawar on NCP’s Municipal Poll Strategy: Decision Expected in 8–10 Days

After the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) disappointing performance in Maharashtra’s Assembly elections, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar announced that the party will decide within the next 8–10 days whether to contest upcoming municipal elections independently or in alliance.

The MVA, comprising the NCP (SP), Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress, managed to secure only 46 seats in the 288-member state assembly. This defeat has raised questions about the future of the coalition. While Pawar emphasized that the alliance is primarily focused on national-level elections, he noted that discussions about local and state polls within the INDIA bloc have not yet taken place.

Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, “A meeting will be held in the coming days to decide whether we will contest the municipal elections together or separately.”

This statement comes on the heels of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s declaration that his party plans to contest the Mumbai and Nagpur municipal corporation elections solo. “We will fight on our own. Uddhav Thackeray has given the signal,” Raut said, adding that he had consulted the city Shiv Sena chief about the decision.

Meanwhile, Pawar dismissed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that the BJP’s recent victory marked an end to “politics of betrayal” in Maharashtra. Pawar called for maintaining the dignity of the home minister’s office.

Although Sanjay Raut recently met with Sharad Pawar, the details of their discussion remain undisclosed, fueling speculation about the evolving dynamics within the MVA ahead of the municipal polls.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”