Internal Struggles Erupt in Pune Congress Amid Leadership Disputes

Pune, 25th March 2025: The Pune City Congress is witnessing intensified factionalism and internal conflicts, defying recent directives from Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal. Despite his call for unity and preparation for the municipal elections, disputes over the Pune City President’s position have reignited divisions within the party.

The long-standing issue of appointing a full-time city president has escalated tensions between two prominent factions. One group supports interim city president Arvind Shinde, while another, led by former MLAs Ramesh Bagwe and Mohan Joshi, opposes Shinde’s permanent appointment. These factions have begun lobbying at the state level to secure control of the position, further deepening the divide. Sapkal’s recent visit to the Pune Congress headquarters emphasized unity and urged members to focus on addressing local issues collectively. However, his appeal has failed to curb factional rivalries.

Shinde has held the interim city president role since June 2022, overseeing key elections, including assembly by-polls where Congress achieved limited success. Critics argue that his tenure has been marked by setbacks, including unresolved rebellions in constituencies like Shivajinagar and Kasba Peth. The opposing faction has used these failures to push for leadership change, accusing Shinde’s group of ineffectiveness.

Meanwhile, Shinde’s supporters are actively campaigning for his permanent appointment, claiming that a stable leadership is essential for upcoming electoral challenges. This tug-of-war has left the party divided, with internal discord overshadowing preparations for municipal elections.