Pune : The counting of votes for the elections held in two phases for 14 Municipal Councils and 3 Nagar Panchayats in Pune district was completed on Sunday. The results have established the undisputed supremacy of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the region. While the BJP currently holds the top position at the state level, it had to settle for a disappointing third place within Pune district. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP successfully secured the President’s post in 8 Municipal Councils and 2 Nagar Panchayats, effectively consolidating its stronghold over local politics.
Performance of the Mahayuti Allies and Opposition
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shivsena also made significant gains by winning the President’s post in 3 Municipal Councils and 1 Nagar Panchayat. This election, conducted after a four-year hiatus following the expiration of previous terms, saw immense enthusiasm from candidates, party workers, and voters alike. However, the opposition parties faced a major setback as the Congress and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar Group) appeared remarkably weak and were largely absent from the main contest. Although the Shivsena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction fielded candidates in several locations, they were ultimately rejected by the electorate, leaving the dominant factions of the Mahayuti to lead the district.
