PMC Election Results Deliver Major Upsets for Veteran Politicians
The Pune Municipal Corporation elections have produced significant surprises. Many established political leaders faced defeat as new candidates secured victories. This outcome marks a notable shift in the city's political landscape.
Prominent Figures Who Lost Their Seats
Several well-known politicians failed to win their wards. Former deputy mayor Ulhas Bagul of Shiv Sena suffered a loss to BJP candidate Mahesh Wabale. Bagul had previously won six consecutive PMC elections. He expressed disappointment after the results.
"Money power triumphed over development work in the Sahakarnagar-Padmavati area," Bagul stated. He emphasized that development had been his winning strategy in past elections. This time, however, he believed rivals used different tactics to attract voters.
City NCP chief Subhash Jagtap also experienced defeat. BJP newcomer Veena Ghosh defeated him. This loss represents Jagtap's second consecutive defeat in civic polls.
Other Notable Losses Across Parties
The election brought setbacks for multiple parties. NCP leaders Ashok Harnawal, Shankar Kemse, and Ashwini Kadam all lost their contests. Kadam's defeat particularly disappointed her party, which had expected victory based on her work record.
Congress candidate Avinash Bagwe lost by a narrow margin to BJP's Vivek Yadav. Bagwe had been Congress's strongest hope in these elections. His defeat represents a significant blow to the party's prospects.
Former Congress corporator Abhijeet Shivarkar also faced defeat. He contested as a BJP candidate but lost to Congress's Prashant Jagtap. Shivarkar is the son of former Congress minister Balasaheb Shivarkar.
Additional Political Setbacks
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More and his son Rupesh both lost their elections. Pratibha Dhangekar, wife of former legislator Ravindra Dhangekar, also failed to secure a seat. Her son Pranav similarly did not make it to the civic body.
These results indicate a broader trend of established politicians struggling against newer candidates. The elections have clearly demonstrated changing voter preferences in Pune's municipal politics.
Political analysts suggest several factors contributed to these outcomes. These include shifting alliances, candidate popularity, and local issues affecting voter decisions. The full impact of these results will become clearer as the new municipal corporation begins its work.
