Pune Municipal Elections 2026: Nomination Filing Begins, Political Activity Set to Intensify

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 22nd December 2025: After a delay of nearly three-and-a-half years, the process for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections will formally begin on Tuesday, December 23, with the acceptance of nomination papers. The civic administration has completed extensive preparations, stating that the entire election machinery is fully geared up to conduct the polls in a transparent, smooth and time-bound manner.

PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has appointed 15 officers of the rank of Deputy Collector as Election Returning Officers, aligned with the city’s regional ward offices. Draft ward structures, ward-wise reservations and the draft voters’ list have already been published, and the Model Code of Conduct is now in force.

Despite the formal commencement of the election process, political parties are yet to announce their candidates. There is also no clarity on whether parties will contest the civic polls as part of the Mahayuti alliance or the Maha Vikas Aghadi, adding to political uncertainty. With nomination filing set to begin, political activity in the city is expected to intensify further.

Along with Returning Officers, the administration has issued orders appointing tehsildars, naib tehsildars and assistant municipal commissioners as Assistant Election Officers. In total, 15 Returning Officers and 45 Assistant Returning Officers across three levels have been appointed, and office locations for all election officials have been finalised.

For election operations, the PMC has established 22 specialised cells, with 15 nodal officers overseeing them. Separate nodal officers have also been appointed at the Returning Officer level for these cells, aiming to ensure better coordination and efficient election management.

To facilitate candidates, the PMC has introduced a computerised system to obtain no-objection certificates and dues clearance certificates from various departments. So far, over 2,100 applications have been received under this system. Candidates can now apply for these certificates online or at a single location.

Additionally, single-window cells have been set up at each Returning Officer’s office for permissions related to campaign vehicles, temporary campaign offices, corner meetings and public rallies. Work is underway to further streamline these processes through digital systems.

Law and order arrangements have also been strengthened. The police department has been informed to deploy 160 special police personnel, with provisions for additional security if required during the election period. For polling operations, appointment orders have been issued for around 23,000 personnel, including presiding officers and polling officers numbered 1, 2 and 3. Work is in progress to finalise strong rooms, as well as locations for the distribution and collection of polling materials in all wards.

Across Pune city’s 41 wards, a total of 4,002 polling stations have been finalised. Based on the final electoral roll, polling-station-wise voter lists are currently being prepared. As many as 35,51,854 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the municipal elections. The administration has claimed that planning has been done at all levels to ensure a smooth conduct of the PMC general elections.

With nomination filing beginning on Tuesday, clear signs of rising political heat are visible across the city.

Election schedule:
Nomination filing: December 23 to December 30, 2025 (11 am to 3 pm)

Scrutiny of nominations: December 31, 2025
Last date for withdrawal: January 2, 2026 (up to 3 pm)

Allotment of election symbols and publication of final candidates: January 3, 2026

Polling: January 15, 2026 (7.30 am to 5.30 pm)

Counting of votes: January 16, 2026

Returning Officer offices and ward numbers:

Yerwada–Kalas–Dhanori ward office: Wards 1, 2, 6

Nagar Road–Vadgaonsheri: Wards 3, 4, 5

Shivajinagar–Ghole Road: Wards 7, 12

Aundh–Baner: Wards 8, 9

Kothrud–Bavdhan: Wards 10, 11, 31

Dhole Patil: Wards 13, 14

Hadapsar: Wards 15, 16, 17

Wanowrie–Ramtekdi: Wards 18, 19, 41

Bibwewadi: Wards 20, 21, 26

Bhavani Peth: Wards 22, 23, 24

Kasba–Vishrambaugwada: Wards 25, 27, 28

Warje–Karvenagar: Wards 29, 30, 32

Sinhagad Road: Wards 33, 34, 35

Dhankawadi: Wards 36, 37, 38

Kondhwa–Yewalewadi: Wards 39, 40