The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and the NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday jointly released a manifesto for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections that focuses on improving healthcare, water supply, affordable public transport and traffic relief.
The two rival factions came into an alliance for the election and projected a united development agenda for Pune, with Ajit Pawar saying the party would “deliver results, not just promises” if voted to power. He added that since there would be no elections for the next three-and-a-half years, it would give the administration enough time to work.
Ajit Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule, the working president of NCP (SP), also shared the dais at a joint press conference – the first time they shared the stage since the two factions suffered a bitter split in 2023.
The manifesto promises to fix 33 missing road links across the city to reduce traffic congestion, widen key roads and improve overall traffic flow besides strengthening public transport, possibly including free travel on buses and the metro, and offering interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh to skill-trained women, aiming to boost entrepreneurship and self-employment.
The alliance also promises to build hospitals within a two-kilometre radius, including a dedicated cancer hospital and a burns ward.
Besides promising to make the Gunthewari regularisation process online and simplify municipal approvals to reduce corruption and delays, the manifesto also offers a 20 per cent property tax rebate and a ‘Green Society’ certification to housing societies that adopt eco-friendly practices.
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Acknowledging Pune’s water crisis, leaders said even central areas depend on tanker water, and said they are committed to improving water supply and sewage treatment.
Sule said the alliance had a proven record of delivering schools and civic infrastructure even while in opposition.
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), for which polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.
The NCP, although a member of the ruling Mahayuti, and NCP (SP), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, have joined hands for the January 15 elections to Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies.
Despite being in power with the BJP at the state and Centre, Ajit Pawar has been targeting the local BJP leadership, accusing it of derailing the development of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad despite receiving substantial funds from both governments.
The BJP was in power in both civic bodies from 2017 to 2022.
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