Voters across Pune district participated in significant numbers for elections to local governing bodies, with preliminary data indicating a turnout of approximately 68%. The polls covered 12 municipal councils and three nagar panchayats, engaging a total electorate of 4,51,025 registered voters.
Turnout Trends and Key Constituencies
The voter participation presented a varied picture across the district. Indapur emerged as the frontrunner with an impressive 80% turnout, demonstrating high civic engagement. On the other end of the spectrum, Talegaon Dabhade recorded the lowest participation at 49.2%. Notably, Junnar, an area that has been grappling with public anger over recurring leopard attacks, saw a respectable 68.4% of its electorate cast their votes.
An analysis reveals that 10 out of the 15 local bodies registered a voter turnout exceeding 70%. This overall figure of 68% marks a slight dip compared to the 71% turnout recorded in the previous elections for these councils. Other areas like Alandi and Chakan also reported strong participation, hovering around the 75% mark.
Peaceful Polling and Technical Smoothness
District Collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that the electoral process was largely peaceful. He stated that voter participation crossed the 68% threshold in almost all local bodies and expressed expectation that the final figures might rise further after data consolidation. Officials reported a smooth technical process, with no significant Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) glitches reported from any polling centre.
"Except for a few early technical glitches that were resolved immediately, the process was smooth," affirmed Ankush Jadhav, the chief officer of the Chakan Municipal Council. The day began slowly, attributed to a chilly morning, with only 8.3% turnout by 9 AM. However, momentum built as the day progressed, climbing to 40% by 11:30 AM and crossing the 50% mark by 3:30 PM. A final surge in the last two hours pushed the turnout past 60% in several bodies, with many centres witnessing long queues in the evening.
Contests and Isolated Incidents
Under the current election programme, 76 candidates are in the fray for president posts, while 955 candidates are contesting for member seats. A public holiday was declared in these areas to facilitate maximum voter participation. In councils under Khed tehsil, such as Alandi and Chakan, triangular contests were observed between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction).
The polling day was not entirely without incident, though major law-and-order issues were absent. An FIR was filed by the Bhor returning officer. In a separate case, two unidentified men allegedly threatened a candidate from the Phursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Council, warning him to withdraw from the contest. The duo reportedly referred to the killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
The elections, conducted under tight security and administrative oversight, reflect the democratic process at the grassroots level in Maharashtra's Pune district. The focus now shifts to the counting of votes and the results that will determine the leadership of these local bodies.
