PMC Elections: Chicken, Fish Sales Surge Ahead of Civic Polls in Pune
Pune, 13th January 2026: With the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation elections approaching, demand for non-vegetarian food has surged across the region, traders said. Chicken and fish are witnessing a sharp rise in demand, largely driven by caterers and hotel operators, while household consumption remains relatively moderate.
Polling for the civic elections is scheduled for January 15, triggering increased consumption of chicken in particular. Chicken trader Rupesh Pardeshi said the spike in demand has led to a price increase of ₹20 per kg compared to last week. Chicken is currently selling at around ₹270 per kg.
On Sunday (January 11), total chicken sales in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were estimated at 600 to 650 tonnes, significantly higher than the usual Sunday average of 400 to 500 tonnes, according to traders.
Fish markets have also reported higher demand. Pardeshi said prices of surmai have risen by 10 to 20 per cent, while pomfret prices have increased by around 10 per cent. On Sunday, fish arrivals included 15 to 20 tonnes of deep-sea fish, 200 to 400 kg of creek fish, and 500 to 700 kg of river fish. Additionally, around 20 to 25 tonnes of rohu, catla, and silver carp were supplied from Andhra Pradesh.
In contrast, demand for mutton has remained stable. Prabhakar Kamble, president of the Mutton Sellers’ Association, said mutton prices continue to hover around ₹800 per kg, with no unusual rise in demand linked to the elections.
Traders expect the elevated demand for chicken to continue over the next two to three days due to election-related catering orders and political gatherings.
