Ajit Pawar’s Remark Ahead of Civic Polls Fuels Speculation of NCP Reunion

In the run-up to crucial municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has made a remark that many political observers interpret as a subtle outreach to the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist congress Party (NCP). His comment has once again stirred speculation about a possible reconciliation within the party, which has remained divided since its dramatic split.

When asked on Saturday whether the two rival NCP factions could reunite politically, Ajit Pawar responded with a Marathi idiom, saying, “Tumchya tondaat sakhar pado” — loosely translated as “May sugar be in your mouth.” The phrase, often used to express goodwill or hope, immediately caught the attention of political circles.

The remark was made during Ajit Pawar’s first press conference ahead of the upcoming civic elections and was quickly seen as a possible olive branch toward the Sharad Pawar camp. Within hours, it triggered renewed discussions about whether the long-running feud within the NCP could finally give way to unity.

The timing of the statement is particularly significant. After months of public hostility following the party split, both factions have already agreed to contest the municipal elections together in Pimpri-Chinchwad and to follow a seat-sharing arrangement for the Pune Municipal Corporation.

While the alliance in Pimpri-Chinchwad was finalized relatively early, negotiations for Pune took considerably longer, reflecting lingering mistrust and political sensitivities. Nevertheless, the eventual agreement marked a notable shift from direct confrontation to tactical cooperation.

Momentum toward cooperation gathered pace last Sunday during the inauguration of the Sharadchandra Pawar Artificial Intelligence Institute in Baramati, an event attended by industrialist Gautam Adani. According to sources who spoke to India Today TV, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar were seen in conversation on the sidelines of the programme.

The very next day, NCP MLA Rohit Pawar publicly announced that both factions would jointly contest the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, lending further credibility to speculation of a thaw in relations.

Ajit Pawar’s “sugar in your mouth” remark came in response to a question about Sharad Pawar’s photographs appearing on campaign banners. The issue had previously been a point of contention between the two camps. After the party split, Sharad Pawar had openly objected to the Ajit Pawar-led faction using his images on hoardings and at public events.

The rift between the two sides has since played out across multiple electoral battles, including the high-profile lok Sabha contest between Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, Assembly elections in which Ajit Pawar’s nephew Yugendra Pawar contested against the Sharad Pawar faction, and several municipal council polls where the groups fought independently.

For the upcoming city elections, however, both sides appear to have agreed on at least a temporary truce. A joint campaign is underway in Pimpri-Chinchwad, while a mutually negotiated seat-sharing formula has been finalized for Pune.

Voting for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra is scheduled for January 15. The Maharashtra State Election Commission will undertake vote counting the following day.

As the civic polls approach, Ajit Pawar’s carefully chosen words have added a new layer of intrigue to Maharashtra’s political landscape, leaving many to wonder whether tactical cooperation could eventually pave the way for a full-fledged NCP reunion.