Pune Civic Poll: Defectors Get Prominence as BJP Finalises Pune Civic Poll Strategy, Causing Unease Among Cadres
Pune, 3rd January 2026: With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections drawing closer, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified preparations to retain control of the civic body. However, the party’s decision to accommodate a large number of recent entrants from rival political outfits, while overlooking several long-standing party workers, has led to growing dissatisfaction within its grassroots ranks.
Party insiders said the BJP has withheld tickets from several sitting corporators, citing weak performance in the 2017 municipal elections, while simultaneously fielding around 25 leaders who have recently defected from other parties. This approach has sparked internal debate over whether organisational loyalty and sustained party work are receiving due recognition.
The BJP had registered a historic victory in the 2017 PMC polls, winning 97 seats and ending decades of dominance by the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). As it eyes an outright majority once again, the party has rolled out a multi-tier electoral strategy focused on winnability and candidate profiles.
Among the high-profile nominees is Chandrashekhar alias Sunny Nimhan, contesting from Aundh–Bopodi Ward No. 7. Son of late MLA Vinayak Nimhan, he has declared assets worth ₹36 crore in his election affidavit. Nimhan, who was earlier elected as a corporator on a Congress ticket, was once regarded as a committed Congress supporter before switching allegiance to the BJP.
A postgraduate in Construction Management from Australia, Nimhan has disclosed seven criminal cases in his affidavit. His assets include an Innova car, five Splendor Plus motorcycles, and a Bullet motorcycle purchased in 2005, along with 25 tolas of gold jewellery. His declared assets have more than doubled since the 2017 civic elections, when they stood at Rs 17.67 crore.
Another prominent candidate is Prithviraj Sutar, son of former minister Shashikant Sutar, who recently exited the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) and joined the BJP ahead of the polls. Sutar, a diploma holder in engineering, has declared assets worth Rs 42.51 crore and owns vehicles including a Nissan Micra, an Innova, and a Bullet motorcycle.
The BJP has also fielded several other candidates with strong political lineage, including Pranav Dhange, son of former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar; Mahadev Babar and Prasad Babar; Avinash Bagve, son of former minister of state Ramesh Bagve; his daughter-in-law Indira Bagve; and Sapna Chhajed, daughter-in-law of Chandrakant Chhajed.
Meanwhile, information related to some candidates is yet to appear on the official election department portal. Officials from the municipal election office said that all affidavits and nomination details would be uploaded shortly, assuring that the process would remain transparent and compliant with election norms.
