Pune: Mahavikas Aghadi Alleges Political Interference in Ward Formation, Vows to Approach Election Commission
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 2nd August 2025: Accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating ward formation in its favour ahead of the local body elections, the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday announced its intent to file complaints with the Urban Development Department and the State Election Commission. The alliance warned that if necessary, it will also seek legal recourse through the courts.
At a joint press conference held in Pune, the city presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), Congress, and Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) accused BJP ministers and office bearers of exerting undue pressure on municipal officials to redraw ward boundaries in violation of Election Commission guidelines.
“Deliberate Violation of Ward Formation Guidelines”
NCP city president Prashant Jagtap alleged that BJP office bearers had bypassed the Election Commission’s instructions to use natural boundaries like rivers, roads, and streams while defining wards. “Ward boundaries have been manipulated at the behest of BJP leaders, including a former House Leader who operated from the Circuit House. This tampering is aimed at electoral gains,” said Jagtap, adding that if discrepancies are found in the published ward structure, formal objections will be filed.
He further stated that the MVA will lodge complaints with the Urban Development Department and the State Election Commission and will take the matter to court if corrective measures are not taken.
“No Opportunity for Dialogue with Administration”
Congress city president Arvind Shinde echoed the allegations and claimed that repeated attempts to meet Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram to discuss the ward formation process were ignored. “Not a single MVA representative was granted time for discussions. This clearly shows the level of political pressure the BJP has exerted on the administration,” Shinde said.
“Biased Officials Will Be Held Accountable”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay More and Gajanan Tharkude accused municipal officials of acting with bias while drawing up the new wards. “The officers must remember they will be held accountable for this in the future. MVA will continue its fight to ensure fairness,” they said.
MVA Blames BJP for Yavat Clashes
In a sharp political attack, the MVA leaders also alleged that the BJP resorts to inciting communal and caste-based tensions during elections. Citing the recent violence in Yavat, Daund taluka, they claimed the unrest was “BJP-sponsored” and called for legal action against those responsible for provocative speeches and incitement.
“Riot Politics Is BJP’s Election Formula,” says MVA
“The BJP’s standard formula during election time is to create communal discord. The recent Yavat incident is part of that same strategy. We demand that FIRs be filed against the BJP leaders responsible,” the MVA leaders said in a unified statement.
As the ward formation process nears finalization, political tensions are expected to escalate in Pune, with opposition parties gearing up for legal and electoral battles over what they allege is gerrymandering by the ruling party.
