Wagholi Residents Oppose Proposed Division into Two Wards Ahead of Pune Municipal Elections
Wagholi, 18th August 2025: Ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, there is growing talk that Wagholi could be divided into two separate wards. However, residents, activists, and prospective candidates have expressed strong opposition, demanding that Wagholi remain a single ward.
A meeting of interested candidates and activists was held on Sunday, where attendees unanimously opposed the proposed division. While the draft ward structure has not yet been officially announced, opposition has already begun, with plans to submit thousands of objections once the draft is released. Some participants also indicated the possibility of taking legal action if the division goes ahead.
The population of Wagholi currently stands at around five lakh, with approximately one lakh registered voters, leading residents to argue that Wagholi can function effectively as a single ward. Participants in the meeting questioned the rationale behind the division and warned of a potential boycott of voting if the proposal is implemented.
Several aspiring candidates expressed concern that the division could create confusion during elections. Notable attendees of the meeting included Vikram Waghmare, Ganesh Satav, Prakash Jamdade, Seema Gutte, Anil Satav, Vijay Jachak, Ganesh Tambe, Ganesh Mhaske, and Anil Mishra.
According to discussions, the possible division could see one ward comprising the right side of Nagar Road (towards Pune city), Wagholi, Kharadi, and Chandannagar, while the other ward could include the remaining part of Wagholi, Lohgaon, and Viman Nagar.
Residents and activists have appealed to local MLAs and political leaders—including Shirur Haveli MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke, Vadgaonsheri MLA Bapu Pathare, former MLA Sunil Tingre, and Ashok Pawar—to intervene and prevent the division.
Potential Disadvantages of Division:
Increased difficulty for candidates to contest elections
Creation of a mini assembly constituency
Hampered development of Wagholi
Loss of unity among corporators
Development skewed toward only one part of the ward
Rush and congestion for residents
The meeting concluded with a resolution to fight the proposed division and ensure that Wagholi remains a single, unified ward in the municipal elections.
