With the crucial Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections just days away, a conspicuous surge in the distribution of gifts and freebies by candidates has gripped the city's electoral landscape. From lucky draws offering plots of land to free pilgrimage tours and bicycles, campaign strategies have heavily pivoted towards material incentives, raising concerns about the focus of civic polls.
Land, Scooters, and Pilgrimages: The Freebie Bonanza
One of the most striking promises has come from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Shashikant Tingre, who represents the Ajit Pawar group in the Lohegaon-Dhanori ward. Tingre announced a unique lucky draw scheme where 11 women supporters stand a chance to win one guntha of land each. He framed this as a gift for his 'Ladaki Bahin' (sister supporters), with forms being collected for the draw.
In the Bavdhan-Bhusari colony area, BJP candidate Kiran Dagade Patil has been promoting free pilgrimage trips for residents to religious sites like Sajjangad and Ujjain, as advertised on his social media. His campaign also featured an inter-society sports competition with attractive prizes and a cultural program by the Folk Prabodhan Band. During this event, 500 girls were gifted bicycles and several women received sewing machines.
The trend extends to Ward No. 27, where a candidate organized a large 'Home Minister' event. Women participants walked away with high-value gifts including Activa scooters, washing machines, refrigerators, LED TVs, and ovens. Special 'Home Minister Paithani' events saw the gifting of traditional Paithani sarees, drawing large crowds.
Cultural Events and Cricket Matches as Campaign Tools
Beyond direct gifts, candidates are extensively using entertainment and community events for outreach. Across the city, music concerts, free theatre performances, and cultural programmes are being organized by hopefuls. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, local cricket tournaments are being sponsored, offering cash prizes to lure youth.
In some neighborhoods, candidates have distributed free movie tickets, particularly targeting women in self-help groups. Residents in areas like Suncity, Manik Baug, report a flood of free calendars, pamphlets, and banners from various parties. Similar practices were noted during Diwali, with political workers distributing oil, attar, and diyas.
Voter Concerns and Political Condemnation
While the freebies generate temporary buzz, many citizens and leaders are questioning this culture. Rohan Devadkar, a resident of Pimpri Chinchwad, voiced a common concern: "These programmes are attractive, but voters must remember civic elections are about basic services like roads, water, and sanitation. Freebies may grab attention for a day, but long-term development and accountability matter more."
Echoing this sentiment, NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule made a strong appeal to the Election Commission. "This freebies culture needs to be stopped, or good people will never survive in politics. Voters will not get the expected representatives," she said. She warned that the ethos of the Constitution is at risk if such practices are not halted.
The PMC elections are scheduled for January 15, with results to be declared on January 16. The civic body has been under administrator rule for nearly four years, adding to the high stakes of this poll. As campaigning reaches its peak, the debate over freebies versus substantive issues of governance continues to intensify.
