Pune BJP Candidate Pooja More Withdraws from PMC Election After Social Media Trolling

Dhanori, 1st January 2026: Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Pooja More–Jadhav has withdrawn her nomination from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Ward No. 2 after facing sustained trolling on social media over her past statements, including remarks linked to the Pahalgam terror attack and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The BJP had officially nominated More–Jadhav for the civic polls. However, over the past two days, old videos and alleged statements attributed to her resurfaced online, triggering criticism and questions directed at the party leadership. Despite issuing clarifications, the trolling continued, prompting her decision to step out of the electoral race.

Announcing the withdrawal at a press conference at Pune Patrakar Bhavan, Pooja More and her husband Dhananjay Jadhav said the controversy had taken a personal toll. Jadhav said they had become victims of social media misinformation.

“Statements that my wife never made were falsely attributed to her. The claim that she made an objectionable remark about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife during the Maratha reservation agitation is completely untrue. My wife has also already clarified her position on the Pahalgam attack,” he said.

Pooja More, who hails from Gevrai taluka in Beed district, moved to Pune after marriage. Before that, she was actively involved in the Maratha reservation movement and participated in several silent marches and protests. During one such agitation, social media posts alleged that she had made a controversial statement referring to the Chief Minister’s wife.

Rejecting the claim, More said she never made the remark, “Chief Minister Fadnavis, we are demanding reservation, not your wife.” She stated that the comment was actually made by another woman from Parli in Beed district and that attributing it to her caused severe emotional distress.

The controversy intensified after a video linked to the April 22, 2024, terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam began circulating online. In the clip, More is heard saying that the attackers did not ask about religion before opening fire. At the time of the attack, she was in Kashmir.

Addressing the issue, More said the video was edited and shared out of context. She said her intention was to prevent communal tension and promote Hindu–Muslim harmony. According to her, only a partial clip was circulated, while her full statement was ignored. She added that she later posted a detailed clarification video on Facebook.

More further explained that she and her husband were vacationing in Kashmir when the attack occurred. After learning about the incident, they stepped out to reassure tourists, particularly those from Maharashtra, and worked to prevent panic and communal tension. “A few hours after the attack, when clearer information emerged, I categorically stated that the terrorists did ask about religion before firing,” she said.

She alleged that despite this clarification, only the initial video continued to be circulated on social media. Speaking emotionally at the press conference, Pooja More said the sustained online trolling ultimately forced her to withdraw from the election.