The Sanay Chhatrapati Shasan Party (SCSSP) has declared its intention to enter the electoral fray independently for the upcoming municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra. The party's national president, Professor Namdeorao Jadhav, made this significant announcement during a press conference held in Pune on Tuesday.
A Bold Agenda: Transforming Cities
Prof. Jadhav outlined an ambitious vision for urban renewal, stating the party would contest all 165 seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation with the agenda of "making cities like Singapore." This model focuses on comprehensive, planned, and transparent development, moving beyond basic civic issues. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of urban governance, where public interest has been sidelined for personal gain, leaving citizens' issues unresolved.
New Faces for New Challenges
Criticising the existing political climate, Jadhav emphasised a pressing need for fresh, educated leadership committed to genuine development. The party will prioritise educated and tax-paying candidates for its tickets, aiming to field contenders in all 29 civic bodies across the state. The first official list of candidates is expected to be released shortly.
Jadhav identified pollution as a critical crisis, particularly in Pune. He cited alarming figures, claiming that Pune district's air quality index has soared to 316, a level he described as dangerous. In stark contrast, he noted Singapore's index ranges between 12 to 15. He further alleged that this severe pollution is reducing the average life expectancy of Pune's residents by nearly two decades.
Holding Development Accountable
The party president also lambasted the ineffective regulation of dust and emissions from the city's numerous large-scale construction projects. He pointed out that while Singapore enforces stringent pollution control norms at construction sites, similar measures in Pune lack proper implementation. According to Jadhav, Pune's development narrative remains trapped in addressing elementary problems like water supply, sewage, and roads, which stifles holistic progress.
He connected this stagnation to public frustration arising from repeatedly electing the same representatives, who have failed to deliver the desired transformation. To lead its charge in the city, the party has appointed Rahul Mate as the new Pune city president. Candidates elected on the SCSSP ticket will be mandated to focus on a planned, transparent, and holistic development model for urban centres.
