Refuting speculations about the reunification of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and murmurs about a likely change in alliances, party leader Praful Patel said his party stands firmly with the National Democratic Alliance and will continue to do so in the 2029 elections as well.
The NCP national working president also refuted speculation about party leader Ajit Pawar harbouring chief ministerial aspirations while insisting that the current local body elections in Maharashtra will set the tone for the 2029 Assembly election.
“There is no vacancy for the Chief Minister’s post till Devendra Fadnavis is here. Mahayuti is a strong entity. He has the ability to lead us all,” Mr. Patel said.
He denied that the fluidity seen in these local body elections, with ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Mahas Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents ditching each other at several places, will have any impact on overall alliances. “The local body elections are happening after nine years, so the local cadres do not want tight alliances. Everyone is with everyone. In Nashik, the NCP and the [Shiv] Sena are against the BJP. In Ahilyanagar, the BJP and NCP are against Shiv Sena. Cabinet Minister Ganesh Naik [of the BJP] has been going hammer and tongs against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde [of the Sena]. A lot of things will go back to normal once the elections are over. We are categorical that we will be together in 2029,” he said.
