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From civic quarters to PMC hall: Son of conservancy staff elected as corporator in the same office where his parents work

BJP corporator Mahesh Awale, a diploma engineer, hopes to prioritise health and education for Pune's underprivileged.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 22, 2026 10:42 AM IST

Awale, after starting his own business, has also improved the family's financial condition and owns an apartment in Lokmanya Nagar and an agricultural plot in Bhor. (Express Photo)

In a heartwarming victory in the Pune civic polls, Mahesh Awale, 34, has become a corporator of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), where his parents work as conservancy staff.

“It is unbelievable that I have been elected as a corporator. My parents work as conservancy staff in the PMC, and we live in the civic quarters at Sane Guruji Nagar. It is all because of the opportunity given to me by my mentor and city BJP chief Dheeraj Ghate,” said an emotional Awale. He was elected from Navi Peth-Parvati ward on a reserved seat for the Scheduled Castes (SC).

He said his parents raised his two sisters and him from the salary they received as conservancy staff. “I have been brought up in the civic colony where the family stays. I have been groomed by Ghate since my childhood and guided me throughout my entire life,” said Awale, a diploma engineer. He now runs his own business after a brief stint as an employee in a private firm.

“I will work towards the sustainable development of the city while ensuring the progress of all. I will focus on basic health facilities for citizens of the ward I am representing and hold regular medical camps for women, senior citizens in the area,” he said.

Awale said that his priority list also includes improving the quality of education in civic schools and providing guidance to poor students to help them build professional careers. Students from low-income families need proper guidance to make their careers. I have seen the sufferings of the talented youths who could not be successful in their careers due to a lack of anyone to guide them,” he said.

Vilas Awale, father of Mahesh, says it was a proud moment for them when their son was elected as a corporator in the PMC, where his parents have worked as conservancy staff for the last 20 years. “Our initial life in Pune had been in slums, but later on, things improved with employment. However, we will continue with our work,” he said.

Awale, after starting his own business, has also improved the family’s financial condition and owns an apartment in Lokmanya Nagar and an agricultural plot in Bhor.

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Awale is among the 119 BJP corporators elected to the PMC on January 16. The elected body of PMC for the next five years will now hold elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. The elected representatives will also be appointed as members of various civic committees to make decisions related to the civic body.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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