Pune mayor poll: BJP appoints Manjusha Nagpure to top post as NCP pulls out citing Ajit Pawar's demise

3 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 3, 2026 01:01 pm IST

Putting an end to all speculations, the BJP has decided to field three-time corporator Manjusha Nagpure as its candidate for the post of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) mayor. The BJP will field party corporator Parshuram Wadekar for the post of deputy mayor. Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), decided not to field its candidate for the post, citing the recent death of its party chief Ajit Pawar.

However, the Congress has decided to field Ashwini Landge for the post of mayor and Sahil Kedari for the post of deputy mayor. The deadline to submit candidacies expires on Tuesday afternoon and the election will be held on February 9. The position of mayor is reserved for a female general category corporator.

Of the PMC’s 165 seats, the BJP won 119 seats, while the NCP won 27 seats, the Congress won 15 seats, the NCP (SP) won three seats and the Shiv Sena (UBT) won one seat. “Manjusha Nagpure will be the BJP candidate for the post of mayor, while Parshuram Wadekar will be the BJP candidate for deputy mayor of Pune“said city BJP chief Dheeraj Ghate.

NCP leader in the PMC Nilesh Nikam said the party is still mourning the loss of NCP chief Ajit Pawar, so the local leadership has decided not to field candidates for the post of mayor and deputy mayor. “The party top leadership is busy resolving the high-level issues that have arisen after the death of party chief Ajit Pawar, so the local leadership has decided to take decisions for the election of PMC posts,” he said.

The NCP will support the BJP in “good decisions that are in the interest of the party” and oppose decisions that go against the interests of the citizens of Pune, said Nikam, who is all set to be Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the PMC.

On the other hand, the Congress has decided to field candidates for the election of mayor and deputy mayor, so that the BJP does not have a free hand to get the coveted positions. “During the civic elections, the Congress was saying that giving a vote to the NCP is like voting to the BJP. Look, this happened because the NCP decided not to field its candidate for the important PMC seat,” said city Congress chief Arvind Shinde.

Congress will not allow unopposed election of mayor and deputy mayor in the PMC for the BJP, he said: “Corporate Ashwini Landge will be the Congress candidate for the post of mayor and Sahil Kedari will be the candidate for the post of deputy mayor.”

Ajay Jadhav is assistant editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With more than 22 years of experience in the industry, 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-government body 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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