Eyeing a comeback in PCMC, NCP suffers setback in Chinchwad loss, blames Kalate

Despite the loss, NCP said it was a morale booster for them. "BJP used all money and muscle power to retain the seat, using all dubious means.

Chinchwad Assembly, ajit pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal, Pune news, Maharashtra government, Indian Express

NCP said BJP's might have won, but compared to 2019 elections, its candidate has secured less number of votes. "The BJP candidate got 15,000 votes less as compared with 2019 elections, which shows that the party's stock has tumbled," said Gavahane.

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

BJP retaining the Chinchwad Assembly seat with a good margin of 36,000 votes comes as a big blow to Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which was eyeing a comeback to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) where it ruled for 15 years. With civic elections likely in a couple of months time, BJP says victory will infuse new life into the party rank and file for the upcoming polls.

“By winning the Chinchwad seat, we were hoping to create a positive atmosphere in our favour across the industrial city. But the result are a dampner despite all effort,” Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP president Ajit Gavahane told The Indian Express, minutes after party candidate Nana Kate was defeated by BJP candidate Ashwini Jagtap in the Chinchwad bypoll, which was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Laxman Jagtap.

Despite the loss, NCP said it was a morale booster for them. “BJP used all money and muscle power to retain the seat, using all dubious means. However, we put up a good fight, with our candidate securing nearly one lakh votes across the constituency which is an achievement, as the same candidate had managed around 40,000 votes in 2014. This means his stock has gone up by 60,000 votes,” said Gavahane.

NCP said BJP’s might have won, but compared to 2019 elections, its candidate has secured less number of votes. “The BJP candidate got 15,000 votes less as compared with 2019 elections, which shows that the party’s stock has tumbled,” said Gavahane.

Gavahane said the presence of Rahul Kalate, the independent candidate, proved decisive in Ashwini Jagtap’s win and NCP candidate’s loss. “If we combine the votes Kate and Kalate, they leave Ashwini Jagtap far behind. Kalate is a Shiv Sena leader. Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena is an MVA constituent. We all tried to get Kalate to withdraw from the race but he refused, which led to our candidate’s defeat. Had we managed to field one candidate, victory undoubtedly would have been ours,” said Gavahane.

NCP ruled Pimpri-Chinchwad for 15 years until it was ousted in 2017 when BJP stormed to power. In a landslide victory, 77 BJP candidates became corporators. Since then, NCP has been strategising to come back to power by claiming credit for the all-round development of Pimpri-Chinchwad. Ajit Pawar has often spoken about his disappointment after losing power in PCMC. “We developed Pimpri-Chinchwad, yet we lost it. We need to put in immense effort to regain power,” he has been telling NCP workers and leaders at every rally. “Although the Chinchwad loss pinches, the number of votes our candidate got gives us every reason to believe we will do well in ensuing civic elections,” said Gavahane.

The BJP camp is esctatic over the victory. Mahesh Landge, president of Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP, said the victory was a forgone conclusion. “We were looking at the margin of victory, which was not up to our expectations. Maybe because of low voter turn out, and the independent candidate ate into our votes. Anways, this victory will have a ripple effect on civic elections, with the atmosphere very much in favour of BJP. We had a decisive win in 2017, and are now geared for it,” he said.

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

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories