Pune witnessed a significant political shift as forty new corporators entered the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) from recently merged areas. Among these fresh faces are two former sarpanches and a couple of former zilla parishad members. They all won their first civic elections on January 15.
First-Time Voters and Major Concerns
More than five lakh residents from the merged pockets cast their votes for the very first time. These areas face serious infrastructural problems. A lack of basic amenities remains a top worry for people living there.
Residents now hope their new representatives will secure dedicated funds for development work in the general body. They expect focused attention on long-standing issues.
Key Victories in Close Contests
BJP candidate Waynkoji Khopde, the former sarpanch of Gujar-Nimbalkarwadi, achieved a notable win. His area joined PMC in 2021. Khopde defeated former corporator Vasant More in a tightly fought battle.
Nivrutti Bandal from the NCP, previously the sarpanch of Undri, also scored a decisive victory. He trounced former corporator Nana Bhangire. Two former zilla parishad members made successful civic electoral debuts as well.
Ramdas Dabhade and Anita Ingale, both representing Wagholi, secured their seats. Their experience in local governance likely played a role in their wins.
Residents Voice Infrastructure Struggles
Sandip Mate, a resident of Manjari, explained the previous challenges. He said gram panchayats struggled to handle civic issues effectively. Limited funds and poor planning hampered their efforts.
"The sarpanch and gram panchayat members often faced difficulties in resolving problems with limited scope," Mate stated. Vijay Gaikwad from Dhayri highlighted specific problems plaguing the merged areas.
Illegal constructions, haphazard development works, and a poor road network create major headaches. Gaikwad pointed out a critical issue. The gram panchayat approved many constructions during its tenure without ensuring basic infrastructure.
"They gave the go-ahead despite the unavailability of water supply, roads, and drainage lines. We want newly elected corporators to look into these issues urgently," Gaikwad emphasized.
New Corporators Promise Action
Nivrutti Bandal responded to residents' expectations. He assured that people's issues will receive top priority in the general body. Bandal outlined a proactive approach for addressing concerns.
"We are going to put forth our demands not only before the general body, but also in front of the civic administration, department heads, and the municipal commissioner," Bandal declared. This multi-level strategy aims to fast-track solutions for the merged areas.
The election results reflect a desire for experienced local leaders to tackle persistent problems. Voters placed their trust in individuals familiar with grassroots governance.
