NCP in Disarray, Ajit Pawar Camp Suffers Major Setback as Political Heavyweights Join BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad

Ahead of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections, the city has witnessed a major political upheaval, sending shockwaves through the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In what is being described as a virtual “collapse” of the NCP’s local leadership base, as many as 22 prominent leaders from various parties formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

This massive political development is being seen as a strong counterattack by BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, following the recent induction of some former BJP corporators and office-bearers into the Ajit Pawar faction at Baramati Guest House in Pune. Political observers are calling Landge’s move a “surgical strike” on the NCP, significantly weakening Ajit Pawar’s influence in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

With the Model Code of Conduct already in force, voting for the PCMC elections is scheduled for January 15, 2026, with results to be declared on January 16. Both BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP have announced that they will contest the elections independently. Against this backdrop, the city’s political atmosphere has intensified, with analysts describing the contest as “Pimpri-Chinchwad’s Dada versus Baramati’s Dada.”

What makes this development particularly significant is that the large-scale inductions took place without any direct lobbying at the state leadership level, reinforcing the BJP’s claim that key political decisions concerning Pimpri-Chinchwad are now being taken locally. This is being viewed as a major endorsement of Mahesh Landge’s leadership within the city unit of the BJP.

The entry of several former mayors, deputy mayors, standing committee chairpersons, opposition leaders, and corporators—many of whom were earlier associated with the NCP and the Uddhav Thackeray faction—has dealt a severe blow to the Ajit Pawar camp. Political circles believe this exodus reflects growing dissatisfaction within the NCP ranks and a consolidation of power around the BJP ahead of the civic polls.

Sources within the BJP state unit indicate that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Ravindra Chavan have extended full backing to Mahesh Landge, further strengthening his position as the party’s principal strategist in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Strong Message Ahead of Civic Polls

Reacting to the development, MLA Mahesh Landge said that the large-scale induction reflects public trust in the BJP’s leadership and ideology. He asserted that the party is committed to development-oriented governance rooted in cultural and national values and expressed confidence that BJP would register a decisive and uncontested victory in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections. With senior leaders abandoning the NCP en masse, political analysts agree that the Ajit Pawar faction faces its toughest challenge yet in Pimpri-Chinchwad—marking a clear collapse of its local organizational strength just months before the crucial civic battle.
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Reacting to the massive political induction, BJP MLA Mahesh Landge said,
“On the occasion of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025–26, senior leaders, office-bearers and former corporators from various political parties have officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the guidance of State BJP President Ravindra Chavan. I extend a heartfelt welcome to all these respected leaders into the BJP family. Remaining committed to ‘Dev, Desh, Dharma and Culture’, the BJP will contest the PCMC elections on the agenda of development-oriented Hindutva and is determined to secure an undisputed victory in Pimpri-Chinchwad.”