After the overwhelming performance of the BJP in PCMC surveysThe party’s Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge stayed away from all the bitterness of the election campaign while expressing the party’s gratitude to the people of the industrial city. Interestingly, he said that his party will incorporate all 128 corporators and at the same time ensure the development of the industrial city.
“The BJP is back in power. The people of Pimpri-Chinchwad have once again trusted the BJP. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and our state chief Ravindra Chavan trusted us and we lived up to his expectations and we have returned to power,” Landge said moments after the party’s second victory in the PCMC’s history. In the 128-corporate house, the BJP will have 84 corporators, while the NCP will have 37 corporators. The Shiv Sena will have 6 corporators. An independent also won. Congress, Uddhav Sena and MNS drew a blank.
Landge said he wanted to express his gratitude to the people of Pimpri-Chinchwad. “The Devendra era is underway in Maharashtra. We will keep a 50-year vision in mind and work tirelessly. Our election agenda was development and we won on the development plan. I want to thank all the voters who supported us. Some of our party leaders lost by a small margin, but next time we will make sure that everyone wins,” he said.
Landge said while ensuring development of Pimpri-Chinchwad, BJP will bring in all 128 corporators. “We will keep people as our focus and have 128 corporations to ensure the development of the industrial city,” he said.
In a video message, Landge avoided mentioning the name of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who had attacked him during the campaign, accusing him of massive corruption. Ajit Pawar had promised to “slay the demon” of corruption and looting of public money in the PCMC. When Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed an election rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he advised Landge not to lose his cool and instead campaign on the issue of development.
Another BJP Chinchwad MLA, Shankar Jagtap, who handled the party’s campaign in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, “The BJP won as many as 84 seats. Before this, the civic elections were held under the leadership of Laxmanbhau Jagtap. In 2023, Laxmanbhau passed away. He was instrumental in several civic victories. He had an iron grip on the PCMC. And the same charisma was We have witnessed it again in the PCMC poll this time. We have carried forward his legacy, although his absence was deeply felt.”
“The opposition had raised the decibel level by making allegations of corruption. However, the BJP flaunted its achievements by implementing development projects. People gave the opposition a befitting reply. In Chinchwad area, the BJP won 39 seats, while in Bhosari, the party won 35 seats and in Pimpri, 12,” he said.
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BJP sources said the party had directed local leaders not to focus on complicated issues and instead focus on development. “There are clear instructions from our state leaders to respond to our opponents by doing good work,” said a BJP leader.
A couple as corporations; children of MLA, MP in PCMC
Surendra and Aishwarya Pathare are the only couple in PMC elections who have been elected corporators in PMC elections. The couple, who have contested on BJP tickets, are the son and daughter-in-law of sitting NCP (SP) legislator Bapu Pathare.
Similarly, in PCMC, Vishwajit Barne, son of Shiv Sena MLA Shrirang Barne, became a corporator for the first time from the Thergaon seat. Siddharth Bansode, son of state Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Anna Bansode, has become a corporator from Nehrunagar area for the first time. Kushagra Kadam, son of former Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Mangala Kadam, won from Sambhajinagar area. He contested from BJP and his mother is in NCP.
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Most of the PMC corporators will be newcomers, with young faces like Kunal Tilak, Swarda Bapat, Raghvendra and Harshvardhan Mankar making it to the elected PMC body. Similarly, there are several women who are joining the PCMC for the first time like Shruti Wakadkar, Manisha Lande, Varsha Jagtap and others.