The recent announcement of seat reservations for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections has ignited fresh political ambitions across the region, with several aspirants who had been waiting in the wings for years finally seeing their chance to enter the political arena.
Long-Awaited Opportunities
Minutes after the seat reservations were declared on Tuesday, social media platforms buzzed with announcements from prospective candidates eager to contest the elections scheduled for next year. The draw of lots for seat reservations has particularly energized those who had been unable to contest due to continuous reservation of their wards for specific categories.
Sanjay Shendge, a teacher by profession and aspiring BJP candidate from Dapodi-Phugewadi-Kasarwadi prabhag (ward number 30), represents one such case. "I have been waiting for years to contest the election. However, every time my ward was reserved for women OBCs, leaving me disappointed. Now one of the seats in my prabhag has become reserved for OBC males. I will certainly contest the election this time," Shendge stated enthusiastically.
Political Comebacks and New Challenges
Shendge last contested in 2002, losing by a mere 22 votes against BJP rebel Sopan Londhe. "I had then contested as a Shiv Sena-BJP candidate. I lost just by 22 votes... Now the situation has changed. I am the only strong candidate from my party. I am the original OBC," he claimed confidently.
The Shendge family has maintained political presence in the area despite these challenges. His younger sister, Asha Shendge, has been elected from the same prabhag, contesting on OBC seat for women. However, this election cycle brings different circumstances as there will be no OBC seat for women in their ward, effectively ending her current political run.
Another BJP hopeful, Ganesh Langote, who lost in a 2016 by-election, is eyeing the Mohan Nagar-Kalbhornagar seat from OBC category (Prabhag Number 14). Langote identified party colleague Kailas Kute as his primary challenge within the party but suggested a practical solution: "We also have a seat for open category candidate. He can contest from that seat and I will contest from OBC seat."
Activists and Party Veterans Join Fray
In the same Mohannagar area, activist Maruti Bhapkar is preparing to contest again. Bhapkar had created political history in 2007 when he defeated established politicians in Mohannagar as an independent candidate with minimal campaign expenditure. Dominic Lobo, a close associate, recalled: "The total expenditure of his elections must have been around Rs 30,000 and that amount too came from the people living in the area who supported him to the hilt."
Veena Sonawalkar, state BJP Mahila Morcha OBC vice-president, is another prominent aspirant preparing to contest from Prabhag Number 9 in Nehrunagar-Masulkar Colony area on OBC seat. "Last time in 2017, I was also a claimant but the ticket went to someone else. In 2012, I had contested but lost to Vaishali Ghodekar of NCP. The scene has changed completely. The BJP is much stronger than it was in 2012. And this time I have a good opportunity to become the corporator," she explained.
Political Calculations and Alliances
The reservation announcement has forced many potential candidates to reconsider their strategies. Iklas Sayed, a hopeful from Akurdi belonging to NCP (S-P), stated: "I was gearing to contest the elections. But suddenly after the reservation of seats and changed political scenario, I will have to do lot of analysis and calculations. I will take the decision in next couple of days."
Meanwhile, speculations about potential alliances between the two NCP factions were scotched by Yogesh Behl, president of Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of NCP. "Our party chief Ajit Pawar called me up and berated me for issuing such a statement. There is going to be no alliance between two NCPs," he clarified.
Expert Analysis on Political Impact
Political analyst Avinash Chilekar observed that the seat reservation has created both challenges and opportunities. "The seat reservation has created lot of problems for the bigwigs. At the same time, it has created opportunities for those who were waiting in the wings for years. We might well see several newcomers winning civic election and becoming corporators for the first time next year," Chilekar predicted.
The PCMC elections were last held in 2017, when the BJP captured power by ousting the NCP which had ruled the civic body in alliance with Congress for nearly twenty years. The BJP had won nearly 80 seats, relegating the NCP to the second position.
After the five-year term ended, the state government appointed Shekhar Singh as the administrator and municipal commissioner, marking only the second time in PCMC history that an administrator was appointed, following Harnam Singh's precedent.
As political preparations intensify, the changed reservation scenario promises to bring fresh faces and renewed political dynamics to the upcoming PCMC elections, potentially reshaping the political landscape of the industrial twin city.
