Political Restlessness Grows as Pune Awaits Municipal Election Schedule

Pune, 25th November 2024: With the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections concluded, all eyes are now on the long-pending Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. Activists and citizens alike are eager for clarity, as the term of the municipal body expired in March 2022, leaving the city without elected representatives for over two and a half years.

The delay in elections stems from legal disputes over ward composition, population metrics, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation. While political workers are restless to contest, citizens are increasingly concerned about the lack of municipal facilities and governance during this extended period.

The PMC had initially finalized a draft ward structure, which was sent to the Election Commission for approval. However, changes in the state government stalled the process. Adding to the complexity, two villages—Uruli Devachi and Fursungi—were excluded from PMC limits, raising questions about whether the existing ward structure will be revised or retained. During the Assembly elections, the Election Commission sought clarification from PMC regarding population changes following this exclusion, suggesting that municipal elections could take place within two to three months after the Assembly results.

With board exams scheduled for February, leaders predict that the municipal elections may be held in April 2024. Some officials argue that creating new ward structures could delay the process by two to three months, but others claim the administration is prepared to expedite matters once the state government issues directives.

The debate over the number of wards remains contentious. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) favors merging four wards into one, while Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and ally in the Mahayuti coalition, advocates for a two-ward structure. If the Mahayuti coalition contests the PMC elections jointly, as it did in the Assembly elections, this debate might be resolved amicably. However, separate contests could reignite disputes over the ward setup.

Approximately 30 petitions concerning ward structures, Maratha reservation, and related issues are pending in the Supreme Court. Party workers expect the Mahayuti-led state government to expedite resolutions to these cases, especially following their sweeping victory in the Assembly elections.