Pune: We Deliver What We Promise, Not Empty Assurances, Says CM Devendra Fadnavis at PMC Poll Rally

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Shivajinagar, 13th January 2026: Taking a sharp dig at the opposition, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said some people were treating the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) election like a contest of street-level strong-arm tactics and making arbitrary promises without the capacity to deliver. “They make claims without having the means — ‘nothing in the pocket, but asking to be called Bajirao’. We, however, believe in doing what we say,” Fadnavis said.

Addressing the concluding ‘Vijay Sankalp’ campaign rally of the Mahayuti for the PMC elections, the Chief Minister urged voters to support the BJP. “On polling day, after waking up in the morning, switch off your alarm and press the button on the lotus,” he appealed to the gathering.

Responding to claims by the opposition, Fadnavis firmly dismissed allegations that the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be discontinued. “The opposition is spreading misinformation that the Ladki Bahin scheme will be shut down. As long as your Devabhau is the Chief Minister, no one can stop this scheme,” he asserted.

The rally was attended by Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, MLA Siddharth Shirole, BJP state general secretary Rajesh Pandey, and all Mahayuti candidates from the Shivajinagar Assembly constituency.

Emphasising women-centric development, Fadnavis said BJP’s victory would be powered by “Ladki Bahins”. He added that the government’s goal was to transform beneficiaries into “Lakhpati Didis”. “So far, 50 lakh women in Maharashtra have become Lakhpati Didis. Our target is to take this number to one crore in the next four to five months. When I visit this constituency again, I will ask corporators how many women they have helped become Lakhpati Didis. Those aspiring for positions must work towards creating more Lakhpati Didis,” he said.

Highlighting Pune’s transformation into a global city, the Chief Minister presented a detailed development report card. He said a 110-km Metro network is being developed in Pune, with the Shivajinagar–Hinjewadi Metro corridor in its final stage and scheduled for inauguration this year. An integrated multimodal hub for Metro and PMPML is also being developed at Shivajinagar.

Fadnavis said projects worth ₹35,000 crore had been completed in the recent past, while projects worth ₹44,000 crore are planned over the next five years. To ease traffic congestion, 23 new flyovers and underpasses are being constructed across 32 major roads. He also announced the establishment of an Economic Development Corporation for the Vadar community, under which interest-free loans of up to ₹15 lakh will be provided to promote entrepreneurship among members of the Vadar and Ramoshi communities.

Referring to Shivajinagar as the only constituency named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Fadnavis said Pune is emerging as a key pillar of India’s digital transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Pune is not only a manufacturing and IT hub but also an international city, with people from 90 countries working here,” he said.

Outlining the city’s long-term urban vision, he said the government has prepared a concrete roadmap covering clean water supply, sewage systems, solid waste management, redevelopment of old wada structures, and ownership housing for slum dwellers. Criticising past unplanned infrastructure, he noted that some flyovers had to be demolished due to poor planning, citing the University flyover as an example. “We are planning for the next 20 years. A new flyover has been constructed accordingly and will be opened to the public soon,” he added.

Praising local leadership, Fadnavis said MLA Siddharth Shirole had ensured completion of development works worth ₹100 crore in the Shivajinagar area. He assured that the state government stands firmly behind the 12 corporator candidates and Siddharth Shirole, and that adequate funds would be made available for future development works in the Shivajinagar constituency.