Pune Municipal Corporation Sees Unopposed Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) witnessed a significant political development on Monday as the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) withdrew from the electoral race. This strategic move paved the way for three-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Manjusha Nagpure and Republican Party of India (RPI) corporator Parshuram Wadekar to be elected unopposed to the prestigious posts of mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. The election took place during a special general body meeting, marking a pivotal moment for the city's governance.
Opposition Parties Withdraw in Tribute to Late Leaders
At the outset of the general body meeting, BJP politician and leader of the house Ganesh Bidkar made a compelling appeal. He urged that the mayoral election be conducted unopposed as a gesture of homage to former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and former city Member of Parliament Suresh Kalmadi. "Elected members should conduct the mayoral election unopposed to pay homage to former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and former city MP Suresh Kalmadi," stated Bidkar, setting the tone for the proceedings.
The opposition parties, namely the Congress and NCP, accepted this demand, framing their withdrawal as a tribute to the late leaders. In a statement following the declaration of the posts, leaders from the opposition emphasized the neutrality expected of the mayor and deputy mayor. "The post of mayor and deputy mayor is neutral. They should serve equal justice to all parties, including the opposition, although the BJP has maximum seats and a clear majority," they asserted, highlighting their expectations for impartial governance.
Background on the Candidates and Electoral Dynamics
The BJP had officially announced the candidatures of Manjusha Nagpure and Parshuram Wadekar the previous week. In response, the NCP and Congress had fielded Sheetal Sawant and Ashwini Landge, respectively, to contest against Nagpure for the mayor's position. For the deputy mayor's post, NCP's Datta Bahirat and Congress's Sahil Kedari were in contention. However, in a decisive turn of events on Monday, all opposition candidates—Sawant, Landge, Bahirat, and Kedari—withdrew from the race, ensuring an unopposed election.
Manjusha Nagpure brings a diverse background to her new role. Having worked in the information technology industry, she left her corporate job to enter politics. Her political journey includes winning her first two elections in 2012 and 2017 from the Sinhagad Road area. She secured her third consecutive victory in the 2026 civic polls from the Suncity-Manikbaug ward, this time unopposed. Nagpure is married to Deepak Nagpure, a prominent right-wing leader and office-bearer of the BJP, and maintains close associations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Parshuram Wadekar, a leader of the Republican Party of India (RPI A), was elected to the PMC for the first time in the recent civic polls from the Bopodi area. With over two decades of active involvement in party activities and social platforms, Wadekar brings extensive experience to his position. His wife, Sunita Wadekar, is a former corporator who served as deputy mayor in the previous tenure, adding a familial legacy to his political role.
Political Landscape and Historical Context
The BJP holds a dominant position in the PMC with a two-thirds majority, comprising 119 corporators. In contrast, the NCP has 27 seats, Congress has 15, NCP (SP) has 3, and Shiv Sena (UBT) has 1. This substantial majority had positioned the BJP to comfortably win both the mayor and deputy mayor seats, even without the opposition's withdrawal.
This election marks the end of a four-year period of administrative rule in Pune, as the PMC finally gets a mayor and deputy mayor after the tenure of the previous mayor concluded in February 2022. The delay in filling these posts was due to the absence of civic elections during this interval. Last month, reservations for the mayor's post were declared, with Pune, Nashik, and Mumbai, along with six other municipal corporations in Maharashtra, now having a woman mayor from the general category.
Opposition's Stance and Future Expectations
During the first general body meeting of the PMC on Monday, leaders from opposition parties outlined their approach to governance. They expressed willingness to support all measures aimed at the city's development but vowed to take a firm stand against decisions that do not favor citizens. Nilesh Nikam, leader of the NCP in the PMC, stated, "We expect the BJP to work for residents, resolve their issues and handle all challenges faced by the city. We will not tolerate anything hampering the city's progress and residents' rights." Similarly, PMC's Congress leader Ramchandra Kadam emphasized that they would not entertain any ill practices, underscoring their commitment to ethical governance.
Mayor Nagpure's Priorities and a Gesture of Generosity
In her address at the maiden general body meeting, newly elected mayor Manjusha Nagpure outlined her priorities. "Resolving city's issues is a priority," she declared, urging corporators to focus on civic challenges such as transportation, citizen safety, and environmental problems. Nagpure also highlighted the city's ongoing development, noting that Pune would continue to receive significant projects, with the PMC playing an active role in their execution.
In a notable act of generosity, BJP corporator Raghvendra Mankar, who won the civic polls from the Shaniwar Peth-Mahatma Phule Mandai ward, announced his decision to forgo his monthly honorarium and other allowances. On Monday, he submitted a letter to the municipal secretary requesting that his honorarium be added to the mayor's fund. "I will utilise the amount to provide treatment assistance to needy patients," Mankar explained, demonstrating a commitment to public welfare beyond political duties.
