PMC Ward 35 Records Low Voter Participation Amid Unopposed BJP Wins
Pune's Suncity-Manikbaug ward, designated as Ward 35, witnessed a subdued electoral process today. Two Bharatiya Janata Party candidates secured their positions without facing any opposition. This development occurred after their rivals withdrew their candidatures on the final day for such withdrawals.
Voter Apathy Marks the Election Day
The ward, home to 70,018 registered voters, saw only 34,068 individuals cast their ballots. This translates to a turnout of merely 48.66 percent. Less than half of the eligible electorate participated in the democratic exercise.
A detailed breakdown shows 18,003 male voters and 16,068 female voters exercised their franchise. The election was held to fill four corporator positions from different categories, as mandated by a recent state government decision for the Pune Municipal Corporation.
Political Reactions and Allegations Surface
The BJP celebrated the unopposed election of its candidates, Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap. Party leaders suggested opponents withdrew to avoid anticipated humiliation after a potential defeat.
However, rival political alliances voiced strong criticism. The NCP-NCP(SP) combine, the Congress-Shiv Sena(UBT) alliance, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena accused the BJP of employing money and muscle power to force withdrawals. They alleged these tactics cleared the path for the unopposed victories.
Official Scrutiny and Historical Context
In response to the unusual circumstances, the state election commission has demanded a detailed report. Officials aim to ascertain whether any wrongdoing or coercion influenced the withdrawal of candidates, adhering strictly to established rules.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the criticism. He remarked that unopposed elections were not a new phenomenon, having occurred during Congress rule as well. Fadnavis interpreted the BJP's unopposed wins as a sign of strong voter confidence in the party.
A local BJP leader expressed a minor regret, stating the party had hoped for all four candidates from the ward to be elected unopposed. "We wanted all the four BJP candidates to get unopposed elected to PMC from the ward but we were a bit late to plan a strategy for the same," the leader admitted.
Ultimately, voters in Ward 35 only had to elect two candidates today. The other two positions were already decided without a contest, highlighting a significant shift in the ward's electoral dynamics.
