Pune: After facing a significant setback in the assembly elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) party is shifting its focus towards the upcoming local body elections. Party president Sharad Pawar has taken charge of election preparations, aiming to strengthen the organization and strategize for the municipal elections.

In preparation for these elections, Sharad Pawar has called a high-level meeting of party MLAs, MPs, and senior leaders on February 28 at Y.B. Chavan Center, Mumbai. The meeting will be crucial in assessing the party’s current standing, both internally and within Maharashtra’s political landscape.

This is the first major meeting led by Sharad Pawar since the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections in November 2024. A key point of discussion will be whether NCP (SP) should contest the local body elections as part of MVA or independently. The decision taken at this meeting could have a major impact on the future of the MVA alliance.

The assembly election defeat has led to increasing demands for organizational restructuring within the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Reports indicate dissatisfaction among party members, with many suggesting that state president Jayant Patil should be replaced.

Adding to the challenges, there are ongoing speculations that several NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leaders are in contact with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. This has sparked discussions about potential leadership shifts and defections within the party.

As the municipal elections approach, speculations are rising that several local leaders and office-bearers aligned with Sharad Pawar might switch to Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction. If this happens, it could significantly impact the party’s strength in local governance.

In response, Sharad Pawar has stepped in personally to lead the party’s election strategy. He is focusing on rebuilding the party’s organizational structure and ensuring strong leadership in the upcoming local body elections.