Ajit Pawar’s NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP continued its dominance in Pune district, as the party won 10 out of 17 local bodies in this district. As the results of elections to 17 local self-government bodies in Pune – 14 municipal councils and three nagar panchayats – were announced Sunday, 10 were won by the NCP, four by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and three by the BJP.

NCP won in Lonavala, Daund, Indapur, Jejuri, Baramati, Phursungi, Wadgaon Maval and Malegaon. Of the 17 local self government bodies, at 10 places, NCP got its candidates elected as council presidents. Chakan, Manchar, Rajgurunagar and Junnar municipal councils were won by Shiv Sena, while BJP secured Saswad, Alandi and Talegaon.

In Talegaon, Bhor and Shirur, BJP and NCP were in alliance. In Talegaon, NCP has secured majority of seats but BJP candidate was elected as council president. In Shirur and Bhor, BJP has secured majority but NCP candidates have become the council presidents.

“The mandate which NCP received is the victory of development, stability and politics in the interest of people. We will live up to the trust that voters have shown in us through our work,” said NCP national president Ajit Pawar.

In the prestigious Baramati Municipal Council polls, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP won a landslide victory winning 35 out of the 41 seats, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had to remain content with only one seat.

However, as many as six Opposition candidates got elected for the first time.

“We might have lost the Baramati Municipal Council elections but for the first time in Baramati polls, six opposition candidates have been elected. Otherwise, Baramati elections have always been one-sided,” Yugendra Pawar, of NCP (SP) told The Indian Express.

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Yugendra had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections last year against his uncle Ajit Pawar.

”We might have won only one seat but three independent candidates who were backed us have also won,” said Yugendra adding that six candidates of his party lost only by 100-150 votes.

NCP candidate Sachin Satav was elected as Baramati council president.

Among those who lost Baramati civic polls was the NCP’s women wing president who was defeated by independent candidate Sampada Bankar.

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The youngest to win in Baramati is advocate Sanghmitra Choudhari, 21, who defeated NCP’s Swati Ahiwale. Sanghmitra is the daughter of Kaluram Choudhari of Bahujan Samaj Party, who has strongly opposed the Pawar family.

Kaluram Choudhari also unsuccessfully contested for council president’s post. OBC leader Laxman Hake, who had campaigned for Sanghmitra, congratulated her for the victory. ”On the concluding day of the Baramati election campaign, I had predicted that she will win and she has won,” he said.

Senior NCP leader Kiran Gujar’s brother Jitendra Gujar was defeated by independent candidate Yashpal Sunil Pote.

In Lonavala Municipal Council, which was ruled by BJP from 2016 to 2022, the NCP won 16 out of the 27 seats. While the BJP got four seats, three seats each were won by Congress and independent candidates, and Shiv Sena (UBT) secured one seat.

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Rajendra Sonawane of the NCP was elected as the council president after he defeated BJP’s Girish Kamble by over 10,000 votes.

In Talegaon nagar panchayat, Mahayuti won 27 out of the 28 seats – NCP 17 and BJP 10. One seat was won by a rebel NCP candidate. Santosh Dabhade of BJP has been elected has been council president. The BJP had ruled the nagar panchayat from 2016-2021.

In the Sangamner Municipal Council in Ahilynanar, Sangamner Seva Samiti of the Satyajit Tambe, nephew of senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, won a decisive mandate winning 27 of the 30 seats. Dr Maithili Tambe, wife of Satyajit Tambe, won by 16,644 votes. The election had become a direct fight between Thorat-Tambe versus Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil had campaigned for the Sena-BJP alliance in Sangamner. In the last year’s Assembly elections, eight-time sitting MLA Thorat was defeated by Amol Khatal of the Shiv Sena which had rattled the senior Congress leader. His supporters termed Sunday’s victory as a “sweet revenge”.

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“This victory shows the immense confidence reposed in us by the people of Sangamner. Now through Sangamner 2.0, we will change the face of the city,” Tambe said.

In Angar Nagar Panchayat election in Solapur district, where Ajit Pawar-led NCP and BJP had locked horns, all 17 BJP candidates were declared elected unopposed.

Prajakta Patil, daughter-in-law of former MLA Rajan Patil, who had recently switched over to BJP from NCP, was elected unopposed as the nagar panchayat president.

”Despite the wild allegations made by our rivals, the people of Angar have voted decisively in our favour,” Patil said.

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The Angar Nagar Panchayat was in the news when NCP candidate Ujwala Thite was allegedly prevented by her rivals from filing her nomination.

The police and the district administration then provided her the security of 200 personnel to file nomination.

”This must be first time in the history of the country that a candidate was provided 200 security personnel so that she can file her nomination without being threatened. One can just imagine the kind of terror that was unleashed in Angar by our opponents,” Umesh Patil, president of NCP Solapur district, told The Indian Express.

In Sangola, Shiv Sena leader Shahaji Bapu won the municipal council polls. BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and PWP had joined hands to defeat him. ”We have put in hard work for last 40 years in our constituency. The people of Sangola did not like BJP taking the support of Uddhav Sena. They tried to isolate me. However, the people gave them a befitting reply,” said Shahaji Bapu Patil.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

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Ajit Pawar’s NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies

Sharad Pawar's NCP gets only one seat in Baramati, Tambe-Thorat combine gets Sangmaner.