PMC Elections 2026: Key NCP Leaders Switch to BJP in Ward 24
Pune, 6th January 2026: Ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, Ward No. 24—comprising Kasba Ganpati, Kamla Nehru Hospital and KEM Hospital areas—has witnessed a significant political development, with several key leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, strengthening the BJP’s position in the ward.
The inductions took place in the presence of Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and BJP election in-charge Ganesh Bidkar. With this development, the BJP’s support base in Ward 24 has further expanded, while the NCP has suffered a notable setback at the local level.
Among those who joined the BJP are NCP (Ajit Pawar group) vice-president Vanita Vishwas Jagtap, general secretary Amar Subhash Kore, and party member Ayesha Amar Kore. Several grassroots workers associated with the NCP also switched allegiance along with them.
Political observers note that the entry of these leaders follows recent defections from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which had already altered the political landscape in the ward. The latest round of inductions has further clarified the electoral picture, consolidating the BJP’s organisational strength.
Vanita Jagtap has been actively involved in social and political work in the area, while Amar Kore and Ayesha Kore have implemented several local initiatives through the NCP platform. Their departure is seen as a blow to the NCP’s grassroots structure in Ward 24 and is expected to boost Ganesh Bidkar’s electoral prospects.
Party leaders said Bidkar’s development work in the ward has helped build public confidence. Initiatives such as improving facilities at Kamla Nehru and KEM hospitals and providing employment opportunities to women through the ‘Lighthouse’ project were cited as key factors contributing to the ward’s overall development.
At the time of joining the BJP, the newly inducted leaders said their decision was driven by what they described as development-oriented leadership and a desire to work towards sustained civic progress in the area.
