PUNE, Dec. 24 -- The Nationalist Congress Party's two factions on Tuesday moved a step closer to contesting the Pune Municipal Corporation election together. The development triggered dissent within the NCP (SP), with its Pune city unit president Prashant Jagtap offering to resign in protest. Leaders from both the NCP and NCP (SP) held a joint meeting on late at night on Tuesday, following which senior functionaries indicated that an alliance was broadly accepted, with formal talks on seat-sharing and coordination with other MVA partners yet to take place. Jagtap, who has consistently opposed any tie-up with the Ajit Pawar-led faction, stayed away from the late-night meeting. NCP (SP) spokesperson Ankush Kakade confirmed that talks between the two factions had been positive. Sule, while stopping short of declaring the alliance final, indicated openness to a tie-up. "This is an election of party workers. If our workers want an alliance, it will be considered. But there has to be an official proposal from the NCP," she said. From the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Pune city unit chief Subhash Jagtap described the meeting as "positive and constructive". He said leaders from both sides, including Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, were present and that a formal announcement would follow in the coming days. Later in the day, Prashant Jagtap confirmed that he had submitted his resignation, reiterating his opposition to the reunion. "After the split, both NCP factions contested against each other. Voters preferred NCP (SP) in the Lok Sabha elections, and even in the Assembly elections, we received a sizeable vote share. If we now come together, what do we tell the voters?" Jagtap had earlier contested against Ajit Pawar faction candidate Chetan Tupe from Hadapsar, giving a close fight. He said he had publicly stated a month ago that he would step aside if the two factions decided to reunite for the civic polls. The possible realignment has also caused unease within the Congress, an MVA constituent. Congress leader Mohan Joshi said he had conveyed his displeasure to the party high command, warning that the move could hurt the Congress in Pune. "I have already communicated my objections to the high command regarding efforts for a possible alliance between the NCP factions within the MVA framework," Joshi said. While Jagtap's resignation is yet to be accepted, sources said the Congress has reached out to him amid the churn within the NCP (SP). With civic elections approaching, the developments underline both the momentum towards Opposition unity and the internal strains such a strategy is generating on the ground....