With the Supreme Court setting a January 2026 deadline for Maharashtra’s local body elections, the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-AP) has indicated a potential strategy to contest these polls independently.
Senior NCP (AP) leader Praful Patel revealed in an exclusive interview with The Hindu in Nagpur that alliance decisions for the upcoming polls would be made at the local level. He suggested that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections might be the sole instance where the ruling Mahayuti alliance (comprising BJP, NCP-AP, and Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde) would contest jointly. For other areas, local leaders would have the autonomy to form alliances, with the possibility of post-election collaborations if initial tie-ups don’t materialize.
Mr. Patel emphasized that these local body elections present a crucial opportunity for the party to expand its influence across Maharashtra. He explained that due to the smaller scale and complex seat-sharing dynamics among three alliance partners, a unified Mahayuti approach isn’t always feasible. Instead, it offers a platform for NCP (AP) workers to prove their capabilities and demonstrate the party’s individual strength.
These remarks were made during a sit-down interview with The Hindu in Nagpur, held concurrently with the NCP-AP’s ongoing ‘Chintan Shibir’ (brainstorming session).
Focus on Vidarbha Intensifies
Addressing questions about choosing Nagpur – a known BJP stronghold – for the ‘Chintan Shibir,’ Mr. Patel retorted, “Why not Nagpur? We are a party representing the entire State, and I personally hail from this region.”
He further explained, “We aim to intensify our focus on Vidarbha, alongside the rest of the state. This Nagpur ‘Chintan Shibir’ is specifically designed to highlight Vidarbha in our party’s agenda. Our goal is to significantly increase NCP (AP)’s presence in future elections here. Historically, even during alliances with the Congress when Pawar saheb (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar or SP leader Sharad Pawar) led the party, we contested very few seats in this region, which hindered our growth. Now, we are committed to significantly strengthening the NCP (AP) in Vidarbha.”
Commitment to Social Inclusion and Muslim Representation
Regarding the ongoing social tensions in Maharashtra stemming from the OBC and Maratha communities’ tussle, Mr. Patel assured that the state government is dedicated to ensuring fairness and preventing injustice to any group.
The Maratha community’s push for Kunbi status, which would grant them reservation benefits, has intensified. Following the Maharashtra government’s order to implement the Hyderabad Gazette – a document listing Maratha agriculturists as Kunbis during the former Nizam’s reign – the OBC community has reacted with concern, fearing that this move could enable Marathas to gain reservations within the OBC quota.
Mr. Patel reiterated the party’s stance on equality and inclusion, stating, “We treat everyone as equals. We are proud to be the only party with a Muslim Minister and dedicate 10% of our Vidhan Sabha seats to minorities. Our party also has the sole Muslim representative in the Upper House. We aim for parity, actively combat discrimination, and champion those in need of governmental assistance.”