PMC Elections 2026: Pune Records Moderate 14.92% Turnout by 11:30 AM; Deccan Gymkhana Leads
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 15th January 2026: Voting for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) General Elections 2025-2026 commenced this morning, registering a moderate voter turnout of 14.92% across the city by 11:30 AM, according to official data released by the State Election Commission, Maharashtra.
Out of a massive eligible electorate of 35,52,637 voters, a total of 5,29,933 citizens exercised their franchise in the first four hours of polling.
Key Statistics
The early trend suggests a steady but slow pace. The gender-wise breakdown of the votes cast is as follows:
Male Voters: 3,06,839
Female Voters: 2,23,084
Other: 10
Ward-wise Performance
Voter enthusiasm varied significantly across different wards.
Top Performing Wards:
The historic Deccan Gymkhana – Fergusson College (Ward 29) area recorded the highest turnout in the city at 18.91%, followed closely by Mayur Colony – Kothrud (Ward 31) at 18.75% and Bavdhan – Bhusari Colony (Ward 10) at 18.56%.
Low Voter Turnout:
Conversely, voter apathy was visible in other areas. Dhankawadi – Katraj Dairy (Ward 37) recorded the lowest turnout in the city at a dismal 8.79%. Similarly, Balajinagar – Ambegaon – Katraj (Ward 38) saw only 9.88% participation, marking them as the only two wards to remain in single digits by mid-morning.
The Big Picture
With voting scheduled to continue until the evening, election officials are hopeful that the numbers will pick up post-lunch. The significant gap between the male and female turnout ratios suggests that mobilizing female voters in the afternoon session will be crucial for candidates hoping to secure a win.
