NCP’s Adv. Nilesh Nikam appointed Leader of Opposition in Pune Municipal Corporation

Pune, 11th February 2026: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Adv. Nilesh Nikam has been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Mayor Manjusha Nagpure formally handed over the appointment letter to Adv. Nikam on Monday evening.

The appointment comes after the recent PMC elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 119 seats and went on to form the civic body. Following this, the elections for mayor and deputy mayor were held on Monday. BJP’s Manjusha Nagpure was elected unopposed as mayor, while Parshuram Wadekar of the BJP–Republican Party of India (Athawale group) alliance was chosen as deputy mayor.

Under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the NCP won 27 seats in the civic polls, securing the second-largest position after the BJP. This gave the party a clear claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition. Earlier, Ajit Pawar had already appointed Adv. Nilesh Nikam as the NCP group leader in the PMC.

On Monday evening, Mayor Nagpure also issued group leader appointment letters to Congress leader Chandusheth Kadam, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) leader Sopan alias Kaka Chavan, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leader Nitin Gavde.

Adv. Nikam is a five-time corporator and a seasoned leader in the PMC. In the past, he has served as Leader of the House and as Chairman of the Standing Committee. One of his key initiatives, the Urban Poor Scheme launched during his tenure, continues to be implemented in the city.

After assuming charge as Leader of the Opposition, Adv. Nikam said his party would support all constructive and development-oriented decisions in the civic body. “We will back every move that is in the interest of Pune’s growth. However, if there is any misuse of public funds or decisions that go against the interests of Punekars, we will strongly oppose them,” he said.