After Reservation Draw, Ticket Hunt Heats Up in Pune Municipal Elections
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 13th November 2025: With the reservation of wards for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections now finalized, political activity has intensified across the city. Aspirants eligible under various reservation categories have begun matching themselves to suitable wards and lobbying for party tickets, leading to a visible surge in campaign preparations, social media outreach, and visits to party offices.
Soon after the ward reservation list was announced, aspirants were seen erecting boards and banners—many featuring women from their families—in wards reserved for women candidates. On social media too, several potential candidates have begun showcasing their family members as likely contenders. Meanwhile, political hopefuls are also exploring ticket options across party lines, assessing their equations with sitting corporators, and gauging their chances in different parties.
On Wednesday, several aspirants were seen at the Municipal Corporation office throughout the day, gathering information about ward-level issues, meeting officials, and even holding photo sessions to boost their visibility.
Ticket Search Begins
In the four-member ward system, contesting as an independent remains difficult, making party nominations crucial for success. Following the reservation draw, aspirants have intensified efforts to secure nominations from national and regional parties. City presidents and party office bearers were approached by hopefuls throughout Thursday, as several party offices witnessed heavy footfall of candidates seeking tickets.
Many aspirants are eyeing tickets from the BJP, while some are simultaneously in touch with both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including leaders from the Sharad Pawar camp. The competition is expected to grow fiercer in the coming weeks as more aspirants finalize their political alignments.
Women Take the Spotlight on Flex Boards
Out of the 165 PMC seats, around 83 have been reserved for women. The announcement has compelled several sitting corporators and male aspirants to pass the baton to female members of their families.
Consequently, women who had so far stayed away from active politics—wives, mothers, and daughters of political hopefuls—have started appearing prominently on flex banners and posters.
This new wave of family-backed female candidates has added a fresh dynamic to the election scene, indicating that many political families are adapting swiftly to the new reservation matrix. With the reservation now settled, the ticket hunt in Pune has truly begun.
