The political landscape in Pune witnessed a significant development as the deadline for withdrawal of nominations concluded on Friday. This led to a clean sweep for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with four of its candidates getting elected as corporators without facing a contest. The victories are split evenly between the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Uncontested Victories in Pune Municipal Corporation
In the Pune Municipal Corporation, BJP candidates Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap were declared elected unopposed from ward number 35, which covers the Sun City-Manikbaug area on Sinhagad Road. PMC election officer Prasad Katkar confirmed that all opposing candidates formally withdrew their nominations on the final day.
Election Commission data revealed that the ward had initially shaped up for a multi-cornered contest. Jagtap was facing one candidate from Shiv Sena (UBT) and five Independents, while Nagpure had an NCP candidate and two Independents in the fray. However, the withdrawals cleared their path to victory.
Commenting on the withdrawal of the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, the party's city unit chief, Gajanan Thirkude, provided a clarification. He stated that the candidate was nominated as part of a broader seat-sharing arrangement and was not a devoted party member, hence the decision to withdraw.
Repeat Performance in Pimpri Chinchwad
The trend of unopposed wins extended to the neighboring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Here, the BJP secured two more uncontested seats. Supriya Chandgude from ward 10B was elected unopposed after four candidates, including one each from the NCP and MNS and two Independents, pulled out on Friday.
This marked the second such victory for the BJP in PCMC within two days. On Thursday, the party's candidate from ward 6B, Ravi Landge, was also elected without any opposition. Notably, this is the second consecutive term that Landge has won unopposed, having achieved the same feat in the 2017 civic elections. Chandgude, in contrast, had contested the previous elections but lost by a narrow margin of around 700 votes.
Political Experience and Local Promises
BJP office-bearers highlighted that both Nagpure and Jagtap are experienced hands, having represented the Sinhagad Road area—considered a party bastion—as corporators between 2017 and 2022. They have also served on important civic committees like the standing committee and the child welfare committee.
Their supporters have outlined a clear agenda for the new term. The elected members plan to champion pressing local issues during general body and standing committee meetings. Key concerns include:
- Traffic congestion and narrow roads in the rapidly growing area.
- Persistent water scarcity problems.
- Expediting long-pending projects like the Sinhagad Road flyover.
- Addressing monsoon flooding in localities like Ekta Nagari through measures such as constructing a retaining wall and promoting housing redevelopment projects.
Reacting to the victories, Pune city BJP chief Dheeraj Ghate said, "The opposing candidates walked out themselves. The two victories mirror the mood of the city. This success will inspire our party workers and citizens alike." The unopposed elections underscore the BJP's strong organizational hold in these specific wards and set the stage for the broader civic political dynamics in the Pune region.
