Pune: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) city unit joined the MVA meeting for the first time on Tuesday, hinting at a potential entry into the alliance for the municipal polls. The development comes as deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP continues to weigh the possibility of an alliance with NCP (SP) for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) election.Congress, which had previously opposed MNS’s inclusion in the state-level alliance, also participated in the meeting to the chalk out the poll strategy.NCP was holding parallel talks with both MVA partners and NCP (SP) regarding alliance prospects. Nana Kate, election chief of NCP’s Pimpri Chinchwad unit, met Sunil Gavhane from NCP (SP)’s election committee to explore a possible tie-up. Gavhane said the party brass had advised local units to consider alliances with non-BJP parties, prompting his meeting with Kate on Monday.Kate said Ajit Pawar had earlier directed the local unit to initiate talks with NCP (SP)’s city leadership. “Baramati MP from NCP (SP) Supriya Sule also spoke to me recently and suggested that the PCMC election should be contested as an alliance to avoid splitting votes. She said both NCP and NCp (SP)’s local units should hold discussions on this,” he said.On Monday, CM Devendra Fadnavis had announced that BJP and NCP would engage in a ‘friendly’ contest in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, ruling out any alliance. NCP (SP) city president Tushar Kamthe met Ajit Pawar in Pune on Tuesday and submitted a proposal urging him to join MVA for the PCMC polls. “I gave him a proposal on behalf of MVA’s local unit to join forces against BJP. He hasn’t responded yet, but we remain hopeful,” Kamthe told TOI.Gavhane said NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde was expected to visit Pimpri Chinchwad on Dec 19 or 20, when further alliance talks were likely. He said while the final decision rested with the party leadership, all options were being considered.Local MVA politicians said the alliance was open to accommodating parties, including Ajit Pawar’s NCP, willing to join hands to defeat BJP in the civic polls. Former MLA Gautam Chabukswar of Shiv Sena (UBT) confirmed that the meeting was attended by representatives of all MVA partners, along with leaders from MNS and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, led by Mahadev Jankar, who were not currently part of MVA.Asked about welcoming NCP into the alliance, Chabukswar said, “We will welcome any party ready to fight BJP.”MNS city president Sachin Chikhale said the party was prepared to contest as an MVA partner. “If NCP joins the alliance, we will welcome them,” he said.
