India, Nov. 11 -- The two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have joined forces to contest the election to a municipal council in Kolhapur, signalling that unusual political alliances may be forged in the upcoming local body polls.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP have come together for the Chandgad Municipal Council election in Kolhapur district. This marks the first formal tie-up between the rival NCP groups since the party's split in July 2023. In Kolhapur, the two NCP parties will together take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the Mahayuti coalition, of which the NCP is a constituent, in the state.

The announcement of the two NCP groups teaming up was made jointly by leaders of both ...