Sharad Pawar Directs NCP to Prioritize Original OBC Candidates for Maharashtra Local Body Elections

Sharad Pawar has explicitly stated there will be no alliance with the BJP. (File)

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar has instructed party leadership to give preference to original OBC candidates when selecting nominees for the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections.

During the party's core committee meeting, Pawar directed MLAs, MPs and senior officials to allocate tickets primarily to candidates from the original OBC category. He specified that Kunbi-certificate holders should only be considered when no original OBC candidate is available in a particular constituency.

The party has conducted numerous meetings since last week. While they have decided to promote women candidates across multiple constituencies, a similar approach will be implemented for OBC candidates, who represent the party's primary demographic target.

The organization has reaffirmed its position against forming any alliance with the BJP, with Pawar emphasizing that collaboration with the ruling party is not an option. According to sources, district leaders will have autonomy to engage in discussions regarding local-level alliances with other opposition parties.

Party MLA Rohit Pawar firmly dismissed any possibility of partnering with the BJP, even at the local level.

"Our workers strongly believe we should form alliances with anyone except the BJP," he stated.

However, sources indicate that discussions are still ongoing within party ranks, and an alliance with Ajit Pawar's rival faction has not been completely ruled out.

"We cannot claim we are inclined to collaborate with Ajit Pawar either, but decisions will be determined at the local level," Rohit Pawar explained, suggesting that possibilities remain open for an alliance with the estranged family member.