The penultimate day for filing nominations for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections transformed the city's ward offices into bustling hubs of political activity on Monday. Candidates from various parties turned the procedural event into a vibrant public spectacle, using it as a stage to demonstrate their organizational strength and connect with voters directly.
A Carnival of Politics: Rallies, Sarees, and Slogans
The streets of Pune witnessed a unique blend of tradition and modern campaigning. Candidates made their way to the election offices in diverse styles. Many led roaring bike rallies that snaked through neighborhood lanes, while others opted for more grounded padayatras, walking through constituencies to personally greet residents and shopkeepers. The air was filled with the sounds of sloganeering, bursting crackers, and the waving of colorful party flags, creating a distinctly festive yet competitive atmosphere.
Adding a strong cultural flavor to the processions, women supporters in several wards were seen dressed in traditional nine-yard sarees, walking proudly alongside the candidates. The convoys were a microcosm of local transport, with autos, tempos, and cars joining the fray, reflecting the broad and diverse support bases the aspirants sought to showcase.
Key Candidates File with Political Heft and Reflection
In a significant show of political clout in Bhavani Peth, candidate Ganesh Bidkar filed his nomination papers for ward number 24. He was accompanied by senior leaders including Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and MLA Hemant Rasane. Speaking to the media afterward, Bidkar expressed confidence in the Mahayuti alliance's performance.
"The voters of Pune have overwhelmingly supported the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha and assembly elections, and this momentum will continue in the PMC polls," Bidkar stated. He highlighted the completion of several projects in the previous term and promised that the next term would focus on elevating Pune's status on the global map.
Contrasting the fanfare, the mood was more reflective in ward number 9, covering areas like Baner and Balewadi. Here, NCP aspirant Poonam Vidhate adopted a traditional approach. Before formally submitting her papers, she sought blessings at local shrines and paid her respects to social reformers and community elders, signaling a campaign deeply rooted in service and cultural values.
"I am committed to honouring the trust placed in me by citizens," Vidhate told her supporters, pledging to prioritize civic issues and work towards transparent, people-centric development for her ward and the city.
Visual Spectacle and Subdued Entries
One of the most visually striking processions was seen in Warje Popular Nagar. Candidate Sayali Wanjale, contesting from ward number 32, arrived in an open jeep adorned in a traditional pheta and a nine-yard saree. A massive contingent of bikers flanked her convoy as powerful slogans echoed through the area.
However, not all filings were marked by such fanfare. In several other wards, aspirants walked into the offices with only a handful of supporters. Their subdued appearances were deliberate, as many political parties are yet to release their official candidate lists. For these individuals, the act of filing nominations was driven more by the impending deadline than by celebration.
The energetic scenes across Pune clearly signal that the battle for the Pune Municipal Corporation has well and truly begun, with candidates leveraging every opportunity to make their presence felt ahead of the official campaign period.
