Pune to Finally Elect Mayor and Deputy Mayor on February 6
After a delay of more than three weeks since the declaration of election results for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the city is now set to get its mayor and deputy mayor. Civic officials announced on Saturday that a special general body meeting of the 165 newly elected corporators from 41 wards will be conducted on February 6, during which voting for these two crucial posts will take place.
Election Process Receives Official Approval
The PMC has successfully tabled a proposal before the Pune divisional commissioner to conduct the election for the mayor's post, and it has received the necessary go-ahead. A detailed program outlining the election process is expected to be announced in the coming days, providing clarity on the procedural aspects of this significant civic event.
BJP's Dominance and Mayoral Candidacy
With a commanding majority of 119 corporators out of the total 165, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to secure the mayor's position. The post has been reserved for women from the general category, following a lottery conducted by the state urban development department earlier this week. This reservation ensures that Pune's next mayor will be a woman, adding a significant dimension to the political landscape.
Senior BJP corporators in contention for the mayor's post include Varsha Tapkir, Smita Vaste, Manjusha Khardekar, and Manjusha Nagpure. A senior member of the BJP's city unit emphasized the party's impressive performance, noting that while BJP won 97 seats in the 2017 elections, their tally has now jumped to 119. He stated, "Though there are many aspirants for different posts, including the mayor's, the top leadership will decide the names unanimously. It is likely that the party will give representation from all areas of the city while picking candidates for various positions."
Internal Lobbying and Strategic Decisions
Sources within the BJP reveal that since the mayor's post is reserved for women, many corporators are actively lobbying for other key positions. These include chairpersons and members of the standing committee, the city improvement committee, and the post of deputy mayor. The party is also expected to select the leader of the house in the PMC ahead of the mayor's poll, a strategic move to consolidate its influence.
In the previous tenure from 2017 to 2022, BJP shared the deputy mayor's post with its alliance partner, the Republican Party of India (Athawale). However, no such discussions have been held so far this time, indicating a potential shift in alliance dynamics or internal party strategy.
NCP's Preparations and Contenders
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) camp is also actively gearing up for various posts within the civic body. Party sources indicate that discussions are underway to decide the party's leader in the house and to formulate a strategy for the elections of mayor and deputy mayor. Key frontrunners from the NCP for various positions include former standing committee chairman Baburao Chandere, Nilesh Nikam, former mayor Vaishali Bankar, and senior corporators Datta Bahirat and Rekha Tingre.
Demographic Insights of New Corporators
An analysis of the newly elected corporators reveals interesting demographic trends. Out of the 165 corporators, 54 fall within the 41-50 age group, while 51 belong to the 31-40 bracket. Collectively, corporators from the 'middle age' group, spanning 31 to 50 years, constitute more than 60% of the total, highlighting a significant representation of experienced yet relatively young leaders in the PMC.
Additionally, among the 40 newly elected corporators from the 22 areas recently brought under the PMC limits, there are two former sarpanches and a couple of former zilla parishad members. These individuals have successfully transitioned to civic politics, winning their maiden contests in the municipal elections and bringing grassroots experience to the urban governance framework.
This election marks a pivotal moment for Pune's civic administration, with political parties strategically positioning themselves to shape the city's future development and governance priorities.
