His family influenced his decision to enter politics from the beginning, he says. His father Vinod Orse is a former corporate officer, while his grandfather Chandu Anna Orse was known for his social work in the area. “I always had the will to join politics. My father advised me to first reach out to the people and work to make them understand public issues before entering active politics,” he said.

According to Orse, he did not hesitate to run for election from a very young age thanks to the support he received from his family, party workers and local residents. He said NCP leader Ajit Pawar trusted his work and gave him a chance to participate. “The party observed the social work that I have been doing since 2022, including the work during and after that COVID-19 period and initiatives for older people. “Giving responsibility to the younger generation is the need of the hour,” he said.

Speaking of priorities, Orse said District 7 has seen little development in the last nine to 10 years. During their door-to-door campaign, residents repeatedly pointed out problems related to garbage management, water supply and drainage. “In many areas, water supply lines and drainage pipes are mixed, affecting water quality. Resolving this will be my priority,” he said, adding that improving road conditions will also be a key goal.

Orse is currently pursuing an MBA in Banking and Finance at Symbiosis University, but suspended his studies due to the election. “For now, solving the problems in my neighborhood is my priority. I will resume my education later,” he said.

Regarding his future political plans, Orse said that this victory only marks the beginning. “I want to work consistently and grow in this field. As my journey continues, progress will be visible,” he said.

Residents of Gokhale Nagar, where she hails from, have fondly called her “Gokhale nagarchi kanya (daughter of Gokhale Nagar).” Orse said the support he received during campaigning It gave him confidence. “Many people told me not to visit their homes and instead guided me to areas where I was needed. On election day, I felt like people were defending me,” he said.

Orse thanked voters, his father and party leaders for their support. “This victory belongs to the people who trusted me,” he said.

Actions speak louder than words: Siddhi Shilimkar

Siddhi Avinash Shilimkar is one of the youngest candidates who won this year’s PMC elections. The 22-year-old, who contested on a BJP ticket, emerged victorious from Ward No. 21 (Mukundnagar-Salisbury Park).

Shilimkar comes from a political family. While her father spent 25 years working for the BJP, her mother was elected corporator in 2017. However, she has her own position. “To me, politics is more about social work and helping people,” he said.

When asked about his generation’s role in politics, Shilimkar said, “If you do a survey, there are more than 40 candidates across Maharashtra who belong to Generation Z.” His campaign strategy was based on a singular message: young people should enter politics.

“Today’s youth are exceptionally capable, particularly when it comes to technology. You simply need to channelize your skills. With the right mentorship and opportunities, Generation Z is fully equipped to excel in all fields. When I first entered politics, people said I was too young. But my family supported me so well that I never felt like that. Even all the BJP leaders made me feel responsible,” Shilimkar added.

Speaking of working with other young all-match winners, he struck a collaborative note. “When it comes to the country, ultimately, we come together,” he said. About his BJP corporate colleague Saee Thopte, 22, Shilimkar said: “I met Saee and our conversation went very well.”

Siddhi mentions concrete projects at the district level covering education, healthcare, social infrastructure and security. Building on his family’s earlier initiative, he said, “My parents had founded Sant Dnyaneshwar School as an English medium school. We are thinking of expanding it up to class 10 with digital learning.” Regarding healthcare, he highlighted improvements at the Khanna Municipal Hospital: “There was no pathology laboratory here. We also plan to install an ultrasound machine,” he said, emphasizing high-quality and affordable services.

Social initiatives include a free yoga hall and a study center for aspirants wishing to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), besides plans for a community sports complex. Regarding security, he highlighted the psychological impact of policing, saying: “Even if there is only one police officer, people’s perspective changes. If there is no one, people are less aware. Therefore, we plan to establish a police station in our area.”

During her campaign, Shilimkar found women in slums whose needs were simple. “Their only demand is: ‘Give us jobs’ because they want to make money,” he said. Referring to cooperative working groups like Lijjat Papad, he said. “I went there just three or four days ago and saw that they had started something similar – making khicche, a type of papad. So I plan to start something like this for those women, so that they have work to do. We cannot employ everyone through the municipal corporation. The positions are limited.”

And what differentiates her from other young candidates? “I watch people very well and I think I can speak very well. I feel like people voted for me for this reason.” However, he resisted early self-assessment, insisting: “Actions speak louder than words. I’m here to prove it.”

Advaya Apte and Swasti Jain are interns at The indian express.