Pimpri: With the Assembly elections approaching, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) finds itself in a leadership crisis in Pimpri-Chinchwad, once considered a bastion under the influence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The NCP, without a city president for the past two months, is struggling to find a leader willing to take on the role that was once fiercely contested.

Ajit Pawar’s dominance in Pimpri-Chinchwad was second only to Baramati, as the NCP enjoyed an uninterrupted 15-year reign in the city’s municipal corporation.

The city president held significant sway, and competition for the post was intense. However, the landscape has changed dramatically. Following Ajit Pawar’s decision to join the BJP-led government, the NCP’s local unit initially remained united under his leadership.

But a disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha elections prompted several senior leaders, including the city president and former corporators, to jump ship in search of better political prospects.

Ajit Ghawane, who was eyeing the Assembly seat from Bhosari, resigned as city president on July 16, 2024, and subsequently joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction along with several former corporators.

This exodus triggered an urgent response from Ajit Pawar, who convened a meeting of former corporators to prevent further defections and held a rally to bolster the party’s morale.

Although some names have emerged for the vacant city president position, including MLA Anna Bansode, former Mayor Yogesh Behl, and local leaders Jagdish Shetty, Nana Kate, and Bhausaheb Bhoir, none of these candidates have been finalized.

The delay in appointing a city president, even as the election draws near, has caused discontent among party members. Key contenders have different aspirations—Bansode is planning to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections, Behl is eyeing a Governor-nominated MLA position, and Kate and Bhoir are firm on their decision to contest from Chinchwad, making them reluctant to accept the city president role.

Ajit Pawar, preoccupied with state matters, has delegated the city’s responsibilities to his son, Parth Pawar, who has been actively involved in overseeing organizational activities in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Parth’s frequent visits and interactions with local party members, including attending city Ganeshotsav committees, have maintained a semblance of leadership.