PCMC election results: Ajit Pawar’s stronghold crumbles as BJP wins decisive mandate

Pune: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a commanding victory in the civic elections on Friday, routing a fractured opposition to retain control over the municipal corporations of Pune and the neighbouring industrial centre of Pimpri Chinchwad.

The victory for the saffron party extended across Western Maharashtra, with the BJP also recording wins in the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, and Satara.

By late evening in Pune, results for 135 of the 165 total seats were finalised. The BJP claimed 95 seats, while the Congress secured 15. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP took 20 seats, and the NCP (SP) managed two.

In Pimpri Chinchwad, the BJP maintained its hold by winning 84 of the 127 seats. The NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar followed with 36.

The election followed a contentious campaign in which Ajit Pawar aggressively criticised his state-level ally, the BJP. He accused the local BJP leadership of overseeing "derailed" development and fostering corruption within the two municipal bodies during their nine-year tenure.

The NCP’s weakened performance in Pune is anticipated to significantly reduce Ajit Pawar’s influence within the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. In an effort to curb the BJP's growing dominance in his traditional stronghold, Pawar had aligned with the NCP (SP), more than two years after splitting from his uncle Sharad Pawar.

Throughout the race, Ajit Pawar directly challenged Union Minister and local BJP MP Murlidhar Mohol in Pune. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, he focused his attacks on BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, alleging widespread graft in the civic administration.

Celebrating the results, Mohol told reporters that the BJP had campaigned on a platform of progress. He expressed gratitude to voters for "reposing faith in the party again."

In a statement posted to X, Ajit Pawar conceded the loss. "The mandate given by people is supreme, and we accept it with great humility," he said.

With inputs from PTI