The stage is set for a significant electoral contest in Maharashtra's industrial hub as the State Election Commission announced the schedule for the long-awaited civic polls in Pimpri Chinchwad. The elections, slated for January 15, 2024, promise a high-stakes yet politically intriguing battle, particularly between ruling Mahayuti coalition partners the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has been under an administrator's rule since March 2022, when its previous elected term ended. The upcoming poll will see nearly 17.13 lakh eligible voters exercise their franchise to elect 128 corporators across the city's 32 wards.
Election Logistics and Key Details
Municipal Commissioner and Election Officer Shravan Hardikar outlined the crucial details for the smooth conduct of the polls. Each of the 32 wards will be represented by four corporators, continuing the system followed in the 2017 election. A voter will be entitled to cast four votes, one for each corporator position in their ward.
Hardikar stated that an expenditure limit of Rs 13 lakh has been fixed for each candidate in the fray. The administration has finalised 2,044 polling stations and appointed eight returning officers. Authorities have launched a voter awareness programme and intensified the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign to encourage maximum participation.
All civic and administrative officials have been instructed to strictly enforce the model code of conduct, which came into effect immediately after the announcement. Hardikar urged citizens and aspiring candidates to adhere to the guidelines.
The Political Landscape and 'Friendly' Fight
The electoral battle in Pimpri Chinchwad is set for a fascinating dynamic. The city, long considered a stronghold of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was under the control of the undivided NCP for nearly two decades. However, the BJP wrested power in the 2017 election, emerging as the single largest party with 77 seats, while the NCP secured 36.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified the political stance on Monday, stating that the BJP will take Shiv Sena along but will not ally with the NCP for the polls to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies. This paves the way for a direct contest between the two Mahayuti partners, which the CM termed a "friendly" fight.
BJP city president Shatrughna Kate said party preparations are in full swing, with more than 850 aspirants having collected application forms. "We have two to three strong candidates for each of the 32 wards. Interviews are scheduled, after which the final list will be sent to the party leadership," Kate stated, adding that the local unit is prepared to contest all 128 seats, though the final decision on alliances rests with the top brass.
NCP city president Yogesh Behl echoed a similar readiness, stating the party is prepared to field candidates in all 128 seats but continues to explore alliance options. "Pimpri Chinchwad has been a stronghold of Ajit Pawar and NCP, and we are confident of making a comeback," Behl asserted.
Issues Dominating the Campaign Trail
Several pressing local issues are expected to dominate the campaign discourse and influence voter sentiment. The most prominent among them is the long-pending problem of acute water scarcity, which has forced numerous housing societies to spend heavily on private water tankers.
Other critical concerns include:
- Reservations proposed on residential properties in the draft development plan.
- Severe traffic congestion across the city.
- Lack of adequate infrastructure in rapidly growing suburban areas such as Tathawade, Punawale, Wakad, Charholi, and Chikhali.
As the election date approaches, political activity is set to intensify in Pimpri Chinchwad. The January 15 poll will not only decide the civic leadership for the next term but also serve as a crucial indicator of the political equations within Maharashtra's ruling coalition ahead of larger electoral battles.
