Ahead of municipal elections in Pune, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has come under intensified public scrutiny for fielding candidates facing serious criminal charges for the elections while promising citizens a crime-free Pune at the same time.
When questioned by the media on this ironic push by his political party, Pawar said that candidate selection was not directly his responsibility and distanced himself from the issue by saying that the decision was taken in alignment with the requests of coalition parties and alliances.
Parties betting on criminal networks?
According to details circulating locally, the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) candidates list includes names linked to Pune’s underworld, including Gajanan Marne, Bandu Andekar, Pintu Dhawde, Rohidas Chorge and Bapu Nair.
As per a report by Pune Mirror, two women candidates mentioned in the list, namely Andekar and Lakshmi Andekar, are presently in judicial custody as prime accused in the Ayush Komkar murder case and have reportedly been fielded from Ward No. 23.
Jayashree Marne, wife of gangster Gajanan Marne, has also been nominated, while Bapu alias Kumar Prabhakar Nair has filed his candidature from Ward No. 39 on the party’s ticket. Alongside them, Pintu Dhawde and Rohidas Chorge are also said to have secured nominations, fuelling speculation that the party is leaning on criminal networks to secure electoral gains.
Ajit Pawar’s past statements on cracking down on crime are now being mocked by netizens as empty claims. The contrast between his promises and the party’s candidate list has become a major talking point across the city, raising doubts over whether the pledge of a crime-free Pune was ever meant to move beyond speeches.
Pune municipal elections
The Pune Municipal Corporation elections are scheduled to be held on 15 January 2026, with vote counting and results declaration on 16 January 2026. This applies to both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation polls.
The elections will decide the composition of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) — the civic body that governs Pune city, responsible for key urban services like water supply, sanitation, roads and infrastructure, healthcare, and urban planning.
The PMC election is widely seen as a litmus test for grassroots political strength ahead of larger state and national contests. Pune’s civic polls typically involve multi-party competition and alliances, with governing coalitions and regional splits shaping outcomes.
Party Defends Decision
Defending the nominations, party spokesperson Vikas Pasalkar said the candidates had previously served as corporators from the party and were being given another opportunity.
“During their earlier tenure, no wrongdoing occurred. People elected them because of their work. Women candidates have performed well locally, which is why they have been given another chance,” Pasalkar told local press bodies at Pune.