In Pune, the political landscape is shifting ahead of local elections as both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are reportedly reuniting to contest the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls. This development has led the Maharashtra Congress to declare it will contest the PMC elections independently, citing a desire to maintain its secular identity. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have formed an alliance for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, with Congress also opting to go solo in Mumbai.