PMC Reservation Draw Sets Stage for Intense Civic Polls Campaigning
The political landscape in Pune transformed dramatically on Tuesday as the reservation draw for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections was finalized, triggering immediate campaign movements across all major political parties. The eagerly awaited announcement has paved the way for aspirants to formalize their electoral strategies and begin public outreach in their chosen constituencies.
The reservation allocation revealed that nearly 83 of the 165 total seats have been reserved for women candidates, ensuring significant female representation in the civic body. Additionally, 44 seats have been earmarked for Other Backward Classes (OBC), while 22 seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and two seats for Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, with equal representation for men within these reserved categories.
Political Heavyweights Reveal Constituency Preferences
Within hours of the reservation declaration, political leaders across party lines took to social media to announce their campaign intentions. City NCP (SP) chief Prashant Jagtap emerged as one of the first to declare his plans, stating his intention to contest from the Wanwadi-Salunkhe Vihar electoral panel. Jagtap made it clear that his party would contest the PMC elections in a pre-poll alliance with MVA and would not align with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP or any partner of the Mahayuti alliance.
BJP youth leader Kunal Tilak, son of former mayor and legislator Mukta Tilak and descendant of Lokmanya Tilak, declared his candidacy from Shaniwar Peth-Mahatma Phule Mandai electoral panel, following in his mother's political footsteps. Meanwhile, former Congress corporator Avinash Bagawe will contest from Kashewadi-Dias Plot electoral panel in the open category, as this seat carries no reservation unlike previous elections.
Strategic Shifts and Alliance Dynamics
The reservation draw has forced several political veterans to reconsider their strategies. Former BJP corporator Ganesh Bidkar will now contest from Kasba Ganpati-KEM hospital electoral panel in the open category, setting up a potential clash with a family member of former legislator and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar. Both politicians had previously contested in the OBC category, highlighting how the new reservation pattern has altered the political equations.
Former city MNS chief Vasant More is likely to contest on a Shiv Sena ticket from Balajinagar-Ambegaon-Katraj electoral panel, while City NCP chief Subhash Jagtap has initiated his online campaign to contest from Shakarnagar-Padmavati electoral panel.
Women and Reserved Category Candidates Step Forward
The significant reservation for women has prompted several female candidates to announce their political ambitions. From BJP, Mansi Deshpande is gearing up to contest from Shankarmaharaj Math-Bibewadi electoral panel, while Shweta Mahesh Galande has declared her intention to contest from Vimannagar-Lohegaon electoral panel.
In the reserved categories, former BJP corporator Aarti Kondhre plans to contest on OBC reserved seat from Ghorpade Peth-Gurwar Peth electoral panel. Dhananjay Jadhav of BJP has made his intention clear to contest on SC reserved seat in Navi Peth-Parvati electoral panel, while Prachi Alhat declared her plans to contest on SC reserved seat from Mohammadwadi-Undri electoral panel.
The reservation draw conducted on November 12, 2025 has effectively set the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested civic election in Pune. With candidates now clear about their constituencies and categories, intensive campaigning is expected to begin across all 165 electoral panels of the Pune Municipal Corporation.
