In a strategic move to prevent large-scale defections and internal rebellion, Pune's major political parties have adopted a cautious wait-and-watch approach regarding the announcement of their candidates for the upcoming civic elections. The nomination process for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) polls is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, December 31.
The Strategy of Silence
Key players including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and Shiv Sena have deliberately withheld their candidate lists. A senior city Congress leader revealed the core concern, stating that announcing names early carries a significant risk. "Once names are announced, there's a risk of rebellion. Aspirants with strong local influence might switch parties if they don't secure a ticket from us," the leader explained.
This caution stems from the intense competition for the 165 seats in the PMC, with each seat attracting four to five hopeful aspirants. The BJP and Congress, in particular, have witnessed the highest number of ticket seekers, prompting Congress to even extend its application deadline to manage the influx.
Cross-Party Poaching and Alliance Friction
The political landscape is further complicated by active poaching, not just between rival coalitions but also among alliance partners. This has caused notable friction within the senior leadership of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar addressed this issue directly, pointing out that agreed-upon rules were being ignored.
"We agreed that alliance partners wouldn't recruit from each other, but some have ignored this and inducted leaders from coalition parties. Loyal workers may leave their original parties and join us. Some have already approached us. We'll assess induction possibilities and announce names accordingly," Pawar stated, adding that city and district unit chiefs would make the final decisions.
Recent moves underscore this trend. The BJP inducted 21 NCP leaders in Pimpri Chinchwad, which included 13 former corporators. Simultaneously, the Shiv Sena's city unit welcomed Congress functionaries, among them a former deputy mayor.
Phased Announcements and Commission Schedule
Revealing the planned rollout, Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, indicated a phased announcement strategy. "We have finalised many names. Seats with minimal competition and no internal opposition will be announced first, followed by others in phases," Mohol said. This method aims to manage dissent and secure positions gradually.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken a different tack, releasing its first list of candidates last week. According to the Election Commission's schedule for the January 15 election, the window for filing nominations will remain open until December 31, and candidates can withdraw their papers until January 2.
As the clock ticks down to the nomination deadline, Pune's political corridors are rife with speculation and negotiation. The deliberate delay in candidate announcements highlights the high-stakes nature of the PMC elections, where controlling defections is as crucial as winning votes.
