Pune: Ajit Pawar-Led NCP’s Anna Bansode Wins Pimpri, Defeats Dr Sulakshana Dhar
Pimpri, 23rd November 2024: The sitting MLA of the Pimpri constituency, Anna Bansode, has once again won the elections, defeating the opposition by 36,000 votes. Representing the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Anna Bansode faced off against Dr Sulakshana Shilwant Dhar of the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP (NCP-SP). In Pimpri, a stronghold of the NCP, it was an NCP vs. NCP battle.
Despite enduring discontent within the alliance and facing significant anti-incumbency, Anna Bansode managed to secure victory. The Pimpri seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), remains under the NCP’s control. Anna Bansode also won in 2019 when the NCP was unified. At that time, both Dr Sulakshana Shilwant Dhar and Anna Bansode contested for the party ticket, with indications suggesting that Dr. Dhar would be selected. However, in a surprising move, Anna Bansode filed his nomination at the last moment and went on to win.
This time, Pimpri witnessed a low voter turnout of just 51.29% out of 3.83 lakh total voters, which seemingly worked in Anna Bansode’s favour as he secured victory by a significant margin of 30,000 votes. Political experts have noted that voters doubted Dr Sulakshana Shilwant Dhar’s experience and her ability to connect with grassroots voters, further strengthening Anna Bansode’s position.
