India, Dec. 16 -- The BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest the upcoming civic elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad separately, but in what chief minister Devendra Fadnavis described as a 'friendly fight', even as Mahayuti allies come together in most other municipal corporations across Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after the State Election Commission announced the long-pending civic poll schedule, Fadnavis said the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP would try to seal seat-sharing arrangements in the maximum number of civic bodies. However, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad would be exceptions, given the relative strength of the BJP and NCP in these two urban centres.

"Ajit Pawar and we cannot contest the...