Talks for an electoral alliance between Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar's NCP for the Pune civic polls have collapsed. The primary sticking point was Ajit Pawar's insistence that NCP (SP) candidates contest using the NCP's 'clock' symbol, a demand rejected by the NCP (SP) to maintain its separate identity. Following the breakdown, the NCP (SP) is renewing its alliance discussions with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners: Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). The civic elections are scheduled for January 15.