In a significant pre-poll victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured two seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) even before voters cast their ballots. The party's candidates, Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap, were elected unopposed from the Suncity-Manikbaug electoral ward after their respective opponents withdrew from the contest.
A Seamless Victory for Former Corporators
This development marks a strong start for the BJP in the high-stakes civic polls. Both Nagpure and Jagtap are seasoned politicians, having served as corporators from the same ward in the PMC's previous term from 2017 to 2022. Their return to the civic body was guaranteed without a fight after other candidates stepped back.
Manjusha Nagpure was contesting for the Open category seat reserved for women. Initially, six nominations were filed for this position. However, two were rejected during scrutiny, and three candidates withdrew their nominations on Friday, January 2, 2026, leaving Nagpure as the sole contender. This win ensures her third consecutive term as a corporator.
Shrikant Jagtap's path to victory was similar. He was contesting in the general category, and his opponent, Nitin Gaikwad, withdrew his candidacy on the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
Ward Composition and Remaining Contests
The Suncity-Manikbaug ward follows the PMC's electoral structure where voters elect four corporators. The reservation breakdown includes one seat for a woman from the general category, one for a woman from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), and two general category seats open to all.
With Nagpure and Jagtap now elected, the focus shifts to the ward's two remaining BJP candidates, Sachin More and Jyoti Gosavi. They must continue campaigning as the municipal polls for other seats are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with results to be declared on January 16.
Political Context and Statements
The unopposed wins provide early momentum for the BJP in the 165-seat PMC. Elections will be held across 41 wards, with 40 wards electing four corporators each and one ward electing five, as per a state government decision.
The political narrative around Nagpure's candidacy gained attention due to statements made by her husband, Deepak Nagpure, who is the city BJP general secretary. After his wife filed her nomination, he stated, "We will tackle love jihad and land jihad in the ward and city after getting elected to the civic body," aligning the local campaign with broader ideological themes.
This early success for the BJP sets the tone for what is expected to be a fiercely contested election, with major parties vying for control of Pune's civic administration.
