Fri Jan 16 07:30:00 UTC 2026: ### Pawar Family Suffers Setback in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Elections

The Story:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the dominant force in the recent municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, delivering a significant blow to the Pawar family’s political influence in their stronghold. Despite attempts by Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Ajit Pawar, to unite ahead of the elections, voters seemingly rejected their reconciliation efforts. The results indicate a weakening hold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a region traditionally considered their political bastion, with Ajit Pawar’s faction faring poorly compared to the BJP.

Key Points:

  • The BJP secured a significant lead in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), winning 77 out of 128 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP trailed with 37 seats.
  • In the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, the BJP secured 80 out of 165 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP won only 5 and Sharad Pawar’s candidates secured only 3.
  • In 2017, the BJP won 75 seats and the undivided NCP won 37 seats in the PMC elections.
  • Asaduddin Owaisi criticized Ajit Pawar during the campaign, suggesting that he is unreliable and aligned with the BJP.
  • Rumors of a potential merger between the two factions of the NCP circulated during the campaign, fueled by statements from Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule.

Key Takeaways:

  • The attempt by the Pawar family to unite ahead of the election failed to sway voters, indicating a potential erosion of their political influence.
  • The BJP has solidified its position in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, traditionally considered NCP strongholds.
  • Public perception of Ajit Pawar’s alliance with the BJP may have negatively impacted the NCP’s performance.
  • Internal conflicts within the Pawar family and the NCP appear to have weakened the party’s standing in the region.
  • The election results suggest that voters in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are increasingly favoring the BJP over the NCP.

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