PCMC Elections 2026: BJP Panel Takes Out Padyatra in Tathawade, Focus on Infrastructure, Water Supply

Tathawade, 7th January 2026: As campaigning for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections 2026 gathers pace, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) panel from Ward No. 25 took out a padyatra in Tathawade gaothan on Tuesday after performing a coconut-breaking ritual at the Nrusinh Temple premises.

The campaign march began from the Nrusinh Temple in Tathawade gaothan and passed through Raghunandan Office, Khambete Vasti and Londhe Vasti before concluding. BJP’s official candidates from Ward No. 25 — Rahul Tanaji Kalate, Shruti Ram Wakadkar, Reshma Chetan Bhujbal and Kunal Wavhalkar — participated in the padyatra along with a large number of party office-bearers, workers and local residents.

Outlining his vision for the next term, BJP candidate Rahul Kalate said the focus would be on reducing traffic congestion through the effective implementation of planned Development Plan (DP) roads, alternative routes and parking systems. He added that ensuring daily water supply, along with the development of auditoriums, new gardens, sports stadiums and cultural and social infrastructure, would be key priorities. Kalate said environmentally sustainable and well-planned development, keeping the area’s growing population in mind, would remain central to future governance.

During the campaign, Kalate also spoke emotionally about former MP Nana Navale, popularly known as Vidura. He said Navale shared a long-standing personal bond with his family and had called him earlier in the day to recall old memories and extend his support. Kalate said such blessings from seniors and the backing of citizens gave him strength to continue his political journey.

Meanwhile, a significant political development was witnessed in Tathawade with Santosh Pawar, a prominent local leader and Shiv Sena’s Chinchwad Assembly vice-president, joining the BJP in the presence of cabinet minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Along with him, Sharad Pawar, Nagesh Pawar and Jaydeep Pawar also formally joined the BJP and began campaigning for the party’s Ward 25 panel. Santosh Pawar had secured the second-highest number of votes from Tathawade village in the 2017 civic elections, strengthening the BJP’s local prospects in the ward.

Speaking about development work in the area, Rahul Kalate said, “While working in the Tathawade area, priority was given to road development and the availability of clean and sufficient water. Cement concreting works of roads such as Gada Road, Jeevan Nagar to MTU road, and the road from Shani Temple towards Marunji have been completed. The DP road from Tathawade gaothan to Punawale via the underpass is progressing. A 25-lakh-litre water storage tank and a 10-lakh-litre sump have also been installed, improving water availability. Continuous efforts, including protests alongside citizens, were made to expedite underpass and service road works. Tathawade is developing in a planned manner, and guidance from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will support faster development in the coming period.”

Shruti Ram Wakadkar said, “The objective is the overall development of Tathawade, Wakad and Punawale villages. To address traffic and other civic issues, solutions such as internal roads, main arterial roads and elevated roads will be prioritised. The BJP is receiving an enthusiastic response during the campaign, and there is a positive sentiment among women, especially regarding the Ladki Bahin scheme.”

Several senior BJP leaders and local functionaries, including Ram Wakadkar, Chetan Bhujbal, Santosh Pawar, Balasaheb Sapkal, Suresh Pawar, Ashok Pawar, Sitaram Pawar, Patilbuwa Pawar, Aniket Navale, Bharti Vinode, Jaydeep Pawar, Nagesh Pawar, Laxmanrao Mohite, Mayur Pawar, Sanjay Pawar, Santosh Kadam, Vasantrao Navale, Chandrakant Wadkar, Ganesh Sapkal, Jeevan Navale, Nikhil Navale, Jalindar Fengse, Balasaheb Shinde (Gurav), Pandurang Shinde, Vijay Waghule, Sandeep Parkhi, Girish Darshale, Devidas Pawar, Rajendra Pawar, Maruti Pawar, Sonawane, Jadhav and Nikalje, were present.

The BJP’s padyatra is part of an intensified grassroots outreach programme ahead of the PCMC elections, with infrastructure development, water supply and traffic management emerging as key campaign themes in Ward No. 25.