NEW DELHI: The coming together of Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar faltered on Friday as united Nationalist Congress Party suffered a massive setback in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal elections.According to the latest trends, BJP has taken the lead of 74 wards in the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations — considered as one of the richest after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, NCP(Ajit Pawar) is ahead of 40 seats, while the NCP(Sharad Pawar) is leading in one ward.This comes despite NCP’s aggressive campaigning in the city during the run up to the elections.Meanwhile, BJP is leading in 52 wards in Pune. NCP, on the other hand, is leading in only two wards. The Congress which is ahead in five wards, is allying with the Thackeray brothers (Uddhav’s Shiv Sena and Raj’s MNS) – who are not leading in any wards.Election ResultsKDMC election result 2026 live: Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation ward-wise, party-wise tallyMaharashtra civic polls: Rahul Gandhi accuses EC of ‘gaslighting citizens’; BJP takes ‘khandani chor’ jibePune PMC Election Results 2026: Counting begins; stakes high after 9-year gapUncle-nephew allianceBoth factions of NCP came together for the local body polls in Maharashtra. This came two years after, Ajit along with a group of senior leaders, parted ways with his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined hands with BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.Ajit was sworn in as deputy chief minister under this new alliance. He favoured aligning with the ruling coalition, while Sharad Pawar’s faction insisted on remaining with the opposition.The Election Commission later recognised Ajit’s faction as the legitimate NCP, retaining the ‘clock’ symbol. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s faction (NCP-SP) adopted the ‘tutari’ (curved trumpet) symbol.Both factions contested elections separately. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where his faction faced setbacks, Ajit Pawar acknowledged that turning his back on family had been a “mistake”.NCP merger in limbo?During the elections campaign, speculations were rife that both the factions of NCP were heading towards a merger. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule hinted at a reunion in the future.While speaking to news agency IANS, Sule had said that a decision about the merger could be taken in the future.“Our alliance is formed for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. We will see about it in the future,” Sule said.However, after the lackluster performance in the local body polls, it would be interesting to see if both the factions would still see merit in coming together.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Blasts Pakistan At United Nations For Pushing Divisive Kashmir Agenda And Spreading FalsehoodsPakistan Continues To Ignore India’s Warning As Drones Return To Valley, Third Incident In Five Days’Adi Shankaracharya Unified India Through Ideas’, Says Amit Shah At Ahmedabad Granthavali LaunchUS Lawmakers Name India As Strategic Partner, Dismiss Pakistan As Ally And Flag China As Top ThreatShaksgam Standoff Triangle: Pakistan Backs China’s Claim, Alleges India Illegally Occupying LadakhPakistan Calls Indian Army Chief’s Terror Camp Remark Delusional Rhetoric, Terror Bosses Blow CoverNew Army Video Highlights Operation Sindoor Strikes On Terror Camps And AirbasesBJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi Warns Against Left Ideologies, Launches Tarun Vijay’S Book Mantra-ViplavFrom Denial To Confession: Lashkar Commander Confirms Op Sindoor Hit, Lays Bare Pak Terror StateIndia-EU FTA Gets A Date As Ursula Von Der Leyen Confirms January Signing With PM Modi123PhotostoriesWhat is Sea Buckthorn that PM Narendra Modi recommends young people should consume regularly: 5 ways to add it in daily mealsSidharth Malhotra birthday special: Dapper moments of the ‘Shershaah starVijay Sethupathi birthday special: Top movies to watch on OTTSean Penn movies that raise uncomfortable questions and refuse neat conclusions5 best running shoes to invest in if you want to finish a marathonForget Rajma Chawal, try these 7 interesting dishes made with kidney beans for lunchRobin Sharma reveals 5 rules to lead in tough timesSidharth Malhotra birthday special: Top must-watch films to stream on OTTHow to babyproof your home room by roomWorld’s most powerful passports 2026: 38 countries that dominate the top 10, and where India ranks123Hot PicksMaharashtra Election ResultsBudget 2026Gold rate todayBank holiday todayBMC Election ResultsPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMLB Trade RumorsKDMC Election ResultPAK vs ENG Live ScoreAUS vs IRE Live ScoreMiraBhayandar Election ResultPuka Nacuas BrotherMarvel Rivals Season 6 Release DateNHL Injury UpdateBrittany MahomesJaxson Dart Girlfriend
NEW DELHI: The coming together of Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar faltered on Friday as united Nationalist Congress Party suffered a massive setback in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal elections.According to the latest trends, BJP has taken the lead of 74 wards in the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations — considered as one of the richest after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, NCP(Ajit Pawar) is ahead of 40 seats, while the NCP(Sharad Pawar) is leading in one ward.This comes despite NCP’s aggressive campaigning in the city during the run up to the elections.Meanwhile, BJP is leading in 52 wards in Pune. NCP, on the other hand, is leading in only two wards. The Congress which is ahead in five wards, is allying with the Thackeray brothers (Uddhav’s Shiv Sena and Raj’s MNS) – who are not leading in any wards.Uncle-nephew allianceBoth factions of NCP came together for the local body polls in Maharashtra. This came two years after, Ajit along with a group of senior leaders, parted ways with his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined hands with BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.Ajit was sworn in as deputy chief minister under this new alliance. He favoured aligning with the ruling coalition, while Sharad Pawar’s faction insisted on remaining with the opposition.The Election Commission later recognised Ajit’s faction as the legitimate NCP, retaining the ‘clock’ symbol. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s faction (NCP-SP) adopted the ‘tutari’ (curved trumpet) symbol.Both factions contested elections separately. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where his faction faced setbacks, Ajit Pawar acknowledged that turning his back on family had been a “mistake”.NCP merger in limbo?During the elections campaign, speculations were rife that both the factions of NCP were heading towards a merger. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule hinted at a reunion in the future.While speaking to news agency IANS, Sule had said that a decision about the merger could be taken in the future.“Our alliance is formed for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. We will see about it in the future,” Sule said.However, after the lackluster performance in the local body polls, it would be interesting to see if both the factions would still see merit in coming together.
