India, Dec. 26 -- The Congress has directed its Pune city unit to prepare for the upcoming municipal elections on its own and avoid alliance talks with Nationalist Congress Party/NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar/SP) if it aligns with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, party leaders said on Wednesday. The directive comes amid continued uncertainty over opposition unity ahead of civic polls even as Congress and NCP leaders earlier this week indicated their willingness for such an alliance.

Congress state chief Harshavardhan Sapkal said that the party is closely tracking political developments in Pune, where alliance signals remain mixed. "There is a lot of confusion in Pune. All senior leaders from the city were present at today's meeting and detailed discus...