Pune will get mayor on February 6, several contenders in the race

After a gap of almost four years, Pune city will finally have a mayor on February 6, ending the rule of the state government-appointed administrator over the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

“After talking with him Pune “Divisional commissioner, the first meeting of the general body of the elected members of the PMC to elect the mayor and deputy mayor will be held on February 6,” said Naval Kishore Ram, commissioner and municipal administrator. The detailed program for the election of the mayor and deputy mayor will be declared soon, he added.

Earlier, the PMC administration had approached the Pune divisional commissioner after the declaration of results to appoint a returning officer to hold the first general meeting of the newly elected PMC members and elect the mayor and deputy mayor.

The state government carried out the reservation process for the post of mayor of all 29 municipal corporations, including Pune. The PMC mayoralty was reserved for a woman in the Open category.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the PMC elections, winning 119 of the 165 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 27 seats, the Congress won 15, the NCP (SP) won three and the Shiv Sena (UBT) won only one seat. The candidates presented by the BJP will be the mayor and the deputy mayor, after a show of hands by the corporations.

Of the 89 corporate women elected in the PMC, most are from the BJP and are eligible to contest for the post of mayor. The BJP has 41 corporate women elected in the Open category, so there is ample competition, with experienced and relatively new contenders.

The most experienced contender is Varsha Tapkir, elected for the fourth time in a row. He will face tough competition from Mansi Deshpande and Manjusha Nagpure, both elected to the PMC for the third time. Deshpande is the sister-in-law of a minister, while Nagpure was elected unopposed. Ranjana Tilekar, the mother of sitting BJP legislator Yogesh Tilekar, is also in the list of likely candidates for the mayor’s post, along with Vasanti Jadhav and Smita Vaste, who have served as PMC corporators in the past.

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Six women were elected to the PMC from the general category, against male candidates, and are being seen as dark contenders for the post. Among the new faces are Swarda Bapat, daughter-in-law of former municipal MP Girish Bapat, and Nivedita Ekbote, daughter of former corporator Jyotsana Ekbote.

Ajay Jadhav is assistant editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With more than 22 years of industry experience, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance and sustainability. Professional Experience Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune office, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He has a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Shocking reports: You are credited with articles based on research on conservation staff (waste workers) who influenced national policy to improve working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-level infrastructure (such as helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic services such as schools in his home districts. Personal Interests: An avid hiker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in outdoor activities often influences his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Your reports at the end of 2025 have been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 civic polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city’s infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) “Not friendly, but a bitter fight looms between BJP and NCP over PMC, PCMC” (22) December 2025): A detailed look at Intense rivalry between Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. “Pune civic polls: Big blow for NCP and NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP” (December 20, 2025): Report on poaching and high-profile party changes ahead of elections. “Ajit Pawar’s NCP continues dominance in Pune, wins 10 out of 17 local bodies” (December 21, 2025): Analysis of local self-governing bodies’ election results as precursors to major civic polls. 2. Infrastructure and Urban Development “Looking ahead in 2026: Pune will see inauguration of long-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route” (December 22, 2025) – An “insights” article on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to be completed by March 2026. “Pune construction: PMC to build double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha river” (18 December 2025) 2025): details a major project aimed at facilitating traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. “Condition of Pune-Kolhapur road to improve in a year: Gadkari” (December 4, 2025): Report on Union Minister’s assurance regarding one of the most critical transport corridors in the state. 3. Civic Governance and Environment “Install sensors and LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC for builders” (December 16, 2025) – A continuation of the “Breathless Pune” series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real time. “Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters” (December 16, 2025): Tracking administrative efforts to clean up voter lists ahead of 2026 elections. Signature style Ajay Jadhav is known for his accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level politics and the ‘ground zero’ reality of Pune residents. It is particularly focused on sustainable development, ensuring that as Pune becomes a “Bharat Mandapam”-style destination (referring to its report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape …Read more

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