In a significant move ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena unveiled its election manifesto on Saturday, placing a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and women's safety. The party, which is contesting the polls independently after alliance negotiations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) collapsed, has made bold promises to safeguard the city's natural landscape.
Core Promises: Hills as Lungs and Women's Security
The manifesto takes a firm stand against construction on Pune's iconic hills. The party has pledged to protect biodiversity park zones by prohibiting any construction activity on hilltops and hillslopes. Senior Shiv Sena member Neelam Gorhe, while presenting the document, emphasized the ecological importance of these areas. "Hills are the lungs of Pune," Gorhe stated, expressing disappointment that other political parties have remained silent on this critical issue. She accused some MLAs of actively pushing for construction permits on these sensitive slopes.
Beyond just a ban, the party's environmental plan includes a massive tree plantation drive across all the hills in the city, aiming to enhance green cover and preserve biodiversity.
On the social front, the manifesto focuses intently on making Pune a safer city for women. Gorhe, known for her activism on women's issues, revealed that the party had previously identified over 300 'black spots'—areas deemed unsafe for women. Their previous efforts led to improved lighting in these zones. Building on that, the new promise is to make the entire city safer by ensuring that police take strict and prompt action against anyone harassing women.
A New Forum for Transparent Governance
Addressing concerns over civic project execution and fund utilization, Shiv Sena has proposed an innovative governance structure. The manifesto promises the formation of a Pune Development Forum. This body will include experts from various fields to advise and oversee projects.
"The civic administration will have to provide information about fund utilisation to the forum," Gorhe explained. This measure is designed to bring transparency and accountability to the execution of all development projects in Pune, ensuring public money is spent effectively.
Going Solo: The Alliance That Didn't Happen
The release of the solo manifesto comes after failed talks for an alliance within the ruling 'Mahayuti' coalition at the state level. Gorhe shed light on the breakdown, stating that while Shiv Sena was ready to adjust and collaborate, the local units of the BJP were "very stubborn" and never provided a positive response.
She concluded with a pointed political remark, reminding the BJP that it managed to form the government in Maharashtra only because of Eknath Shinde's move. The decision to contest alone sets the stage for a direct multi-cornered contest in the crucial civic polls.
The manifesto, therefore, not only outlines Shiv Sena's vision for Pune's sustainable development and security but also marks its independent political stance ahead of the elections.
