NCP retains single-largest tag in Pune

For the second consecutive time,the NCP steered by Ajit Pawar in Pimpri-Chinchwad swept to power in the municipal corporation of the twin city bagging 83 of the 128 wards.

For the second consecutive time,the NCP steered by Ajit Pawar in Pimpri-Chinchwad swept to power in the municipal corporation of the twin city bagging 83 of the 128 wards. In the bitterly fought battle for the neighbouring Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC),it was again the NCP that emerged as the single largest party for the second time in a row. The NCP has also emerged as the dominating force in Pune district in the Zilla Parishad polls.

The biggest surprise in the PMC results was Raj Thackerays MNS,which bounced from eight corporators in 2007 to 29 this time,surpassing its own expectations. As one local leader put it,The people have put more faith in the party than us. The MNS became the second largest party in the PMC edging out the Congress,which had sought a majority on its own this time,to third place with 28.

Of the 152 PMC wards,the NCP secured 51,not enough to get majority on its own but emerging as the single largest party. The BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI alliance,aiming at governing the PMC for the first time,was left way behind the combined tally of the NCP and Congress,with the Maha-alliance collectively getting only 43 wards. The MNS surge was a big embarrassment for the Maha alliance,a fact acknowledged by its leaders.

While Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Yogesh Behl,known as the righthand man of Ajit Pawar,won by a solid margin of 2,000 votes,Pune Mayor Rajpal Singh,an NCP leader,was defeated by 3,000 votes.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad,the NCP swept back to power winning a decisive mandate bagging 83 wards while it opponents,including the Congress and BJP,were blown away in what is being described as an NCP wave. The NCP called it a vote for development. Its a vote for pace of development we set in in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said Behl. The party has in the last five years initiated development projects worth Rs 5,000 crore in the industrial town. The MNS debuted in PCMC winning four wards.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad,the NCP had made it clear,like in the past,that it would have no truck with Congress or any other party. In Pune city,the party has been fighting shy of declaring a post-poll truck. After the 2007 elections,it had sprung a surprise joining hands with the Shiv Sena-BJP and forming what is famous as the Pune Pattern. Party leaders had attributed it to bitter relations between Ajit Pawar and Pune city MP Suresh Kalmadi. However,now with Kalmadi at bay,NCP leaders said the party has no option but tie up with the Congress.

Last week,Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who was in town for electioneering had given indications of a post-poll alliance.

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In Solapur Municipal Council Polls,of the 102 wards,Congress won 45 and NCP finished second with 16. While the BJP bagged 25 wards,its alliance partner Shiv Sena could secure only 8 wards,the same as Independents got. In Solapur,the MNS failed to click with party drawing a blank.

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