Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has definitively ruled out any merger talks with his estranged uncle Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction, as crucial civic polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad draw near. In an interview, Pawar stated that there have been no discussions regarding a reunification, while simultaneously emphasizing that there are "no permanent enemies in politics" and that he believes in the "politics of addition, not subtraction." This statement comes amidst speculation fueled by the two NCP factions recently forming an alliance for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, despite being political adversaries at the state and national levels. Furthermore, Ajit Pawar vehemently denied accusations of 'match-fixing' with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his current ally in the state government (Mahayuti). Critics had suggested a tacit understanding, given that the Mahayuti partners are contesting the civic polls separately. Pawar clarified that both his party and the BJP are focused on strengthening their respective organizations, and that the decision for separate contests in the two civic bodies was reportedly made by CM Devendra Fadnavis based on BJP's strength. While local alliances have been formed based on feedback from party workers to avoid vote division, Ajit Pawar's current stance rules out a broader merger or realignment with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. This development is significant for Maharashtra politics, especially with the civic elections acting as a precursor to larger electoral battles.