BJP deals blow to heavyweight family by sweeping its urban bastions, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with clear mandates; the verdict marks a sharp shift in a region long considered a stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (centre) and other BJP leaders campaign in Pimpri Chinchwad earlier this week. Pic/X/@Devendra_Office
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delivered a decisive political blow to the Pawar family by tightening its grip over Maharashtra’s key urban power centres, winning clear mandates in both the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Friday.
The verdict marks a sharp shift in a region long considered a stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Despite a rare reunion between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction and the Ajit Pawar group aimed at consolidating votes, the alliance failed to impress urban voters. The BJP not only retained power in both civic bodies but emerged stronger, underlining its expanding footprint in Maharashtra’s cities.
BJP tightens urban grip
The results secure a second consecutive term for the BJP in both PMC and PCMC, consolidating its dominance in Pune district politics. The outcome has also raised questions about the NCP’s relevance in urban Maharashtra, especially after a high-profile campaign led by Ajit Pawar failed to stem the BJP surge.
Ajit Pawar’s aggressive outreach, particularly in Pimpri-Chinchwad, widely seen as his political bastion, did not translate into votes. The intense late-stage face-off between Pawar and Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge, billed as “Dada vs Dada,” ultimately tilted decisively in the
BJP’s favour.
First clear mandate
While the BJP had governed the PMC and PCMC while in alliances between 2017 and 2022, this election is significant as it marks the party’s first clear mandate largely on its own strength. Party leaders credited sustained focus on infrastructure, transport, and urban development, backed by the state and Centre, for the strong showing.
The party’s organisational strategy also paid dividends. In PMC, the BJP dropped nearly 30 sitting corporators from its 2017 list of 97 winners and fielded new grassroots candidates. Despite internal discontent over ticket distribution, the leadership stuck to its “winnability” formula, which was validated by the results.
PMC results
In the 165-member PMC, the BJP won 83 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark. The NCP managed 21 seats, while the Congress was reduced to eight. Both Shiv Sena factions, the Uddhav Thackeray group and the Eknath Shinde group, failed to win a single seat in Pune.
From the opening rounds of counting, BJP candidates maintained leads across multiple wards. In ward 8, Aundh–Bopodi, the party registered a clean sweep under the leadership of Sunny Nimhan.
PCMC verdict
The most dramatic result emerged in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the BJP dismantled what was long seen as Ajit Pawar’s fortress. The party won 85 of the 128 seats, while the NCP was reduced to 36. The Shiv Sena Shinde faction secured six seats, and one seat went to an independent. With the BJP-Shinde alliance, the Mahayuti tally rises to 91.
Two BJP candidates were elected unopposed, boosting morale even before polling. The verdict made it clear that even a reunited Pawar family could not counter the BJP’s development-focused pitch.
Reactions
Accepting the outcome, Ajit Pawar said on social media that the people’s verdict was supreme and would be respected. He congratulated the winners and said his party would work with renewed responsibility to regain public trust.
BJP leaders said the results reflected voters’ preference for development and stable governance over political manoeuvring. They added that the verdict would have implications for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Celebrations erupted across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad as BJP workers marked the win with drumbeats, fireworks and gulal, signalling a new chapter in the region’s civic politics dominated firmly by the BJP.
Mahesh Landge, BJP MLA from Pimpri-Chinchwad, said that the clear mandate reflected voters’ trust in the party’s development agenda. He congratulated the newly elected corporators and said the BJP would work in unity for the planned and sustainable development of the city under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party president Ravindra Chavan.
83
No. of seats BJP won in PMC
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