PMC Elections: Ward 11 Campaign Focuses on Doorstep Dialogue as Harshwardhan Mankar Takes Low-Key Outreach Route
Kothrud, 9th January 2026: Unlike the high-decibel campaigns seen in many parts of Pune, the municipal election contest in Ward 11 of Kothrud is unfolding in a relatively subdued but deeply localised manner. At the heart of this approach is Harshwardhan Deepak Mankar, the Nationalist Congress Party candidate from the Ajit Pawar faction, whose campaign has centred on direct engagement with residents of Rambaug Colony, Shivtirth Nagar and surrounding localities.
Instead of large rallies and slogan-driven events, Mankar has opted for padayatras, small corner meetings and door-to-door interactions. Accompanied by panel members Trupti Nilesh Shinde and Kanta Navnath Khilare, he has been visiting housing societies and internal lanes, holding conversations with residents in their own neighbourhoods.
“The intention is simple—to listen first and understand what people are dealing with every day,” Mankar said. “Local governance is about solving basic problems consistently, not making big promises that never reach the ground.”
During meetings in areas such as Pinak Sadichha, Bhaktiyog Society and parts of Sutardara, residents raised recurring civic concerns, including irregular water supply, damaged roads, clogged drainage lines during monsoon, inefficient garbage collection and malfunctioning streetlights. Many citizens said these issues, though routine, continue to disrupt daily life and require sustained attention rather than temporary fixes.
According to residents who attended the interactions, Mankar has focused on discussing priorities and practical timelines instead of offering blanket assurances. Women and senior citizens, in particular, stressed the need for an accessible corporator who remains available beyond election periods.
“There is a gap between announcing works and ensuring they are completed properly,” Mankar said. “My focus will be on follow-up, accountability and making sure citizens actually benefit from the systems already in place.”
Mankar has also spoken about his family’s long-standing involvement in social work, describing his political entry as a continuation of that experience. After filing his nomination from Ward 11A in late December, he said public service was not a new responsibility but a value ingrained over the years.
Rather than criticising past administrations outright, the campaign has acknowledged development works carried out in the ward, including road repairs, drainage projects and cleanliness initiatives. Mankar has argued that the key challenge lies in execution, monitoring and long-term maintenance.
As campaigning intensifies ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, Ward 11 is witnessing a contest shaped more by conversations around civic accountability than by political spectacle. Whether this ground-level approach translates into electoral success remains to be seen, but residents say it has already altered the tone of the campaign by bringing everyday issues to the forefront.
