Know Your Panel

AJAY KHAPE

The panel formed with the merger of two electoral wards – Tingrenagar Pumping Station and Kalas Vishrantwadi – is population-wise the largest among all the 76 panels of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The delimitation process is not going to change the political scenario of the region as it is dominated by NCP.

The Tingrenagar electoral ward is represented by Shivaji Shinde while Kalas Vishrantwadi ward is represented by Alka Khade,both of NCP. The Congress had a good presence in the area in the past and was led by none other than former legislator Chandrakant Chhajed. However,the Congress presence has diminished in the region and the assembly seat as per the seat sharing arangement between the Congress-NCP alliance has gone to NCP.

NCP legislator Bapu Pathare is representing the area in the state legislative assembly after winning with a big margin in the 2009 assembly polls. It has also led to strengthen the base of NCP in the region.

With more chances of making it to the civic body on NCP ticket,the aspirants from the area will be fighting out to get representatation from the NCP. Shinde and Khade too have pull up their socks to get re-elected from the area on the NCP ticket.

“I have been able to carry out development of the area after getting elected to the PMC. The area is getting developed at very fast pace and more civic infrastructure is required to cater to the needs of citizens. The work started by me need to be carried forward,” said Shinde,who is trying to contest on open category seat and also pushing for a female from his family to contest on the seat reserved for women in case he is denied party ticket.

The area is a mix of old village society and the new localities after the growth of IT sector in and around the area. The residents in the new housing societies are mostly from highly educated cosmopolitan society. The new voters are the only hope for any other political party that wishes to make inroads in the area.

Fight among strong Congress,NCP contenders

NISHA NAMBIAR

A strong Congress stronghold,the newly formed panel number 67 is likely to see the party continue their domain for the forthcoming civic polls. Erstwhile wards of Congress corporator Aba Bagul (116) and NCP corporator Ashwini Kadam (125),the area which is a mix of cosmopolitan and slum areas is likely to see both the corporators contest in the respective categories.

Bagul’s stronghold will see him as the front runner aspirant for the OBC seat while he is keenly pushing his wife Jayashree Bagul for women’s category. Even as the Congress have been reiterating about not having family members contest,Congress party members might make an exception for this area with “the win is what is most important,” say Congress members.

Bagul who has been winning elections from this area since 1992 and also was on the panel in 2002 elections says that the delimitation of the panel has definitely been to his advantage with 80 per cent of electoral ward he represented falling in the panel from where he plans to contest .”Having done enough work in the area people in Pune city and in my area see me as a key contestant. The party too recognises my effort,”says Bagul. He is of the opinion that the area will vote for educated persons only.

Though he is the key aspirant,the other names doing the rounds are of Sadanand Shinde and Kailas More while for the women open category,Jayashree Bagul and City congress secretary Mahesh Wable’s wife_Manisha Wable’s name are being discussed. While for the Nationalist Congress Party,Ashwini Kadam is seen a keen aspirant for the general category seat for women. “My entire area is covered in this panel and people know my work,”she says. While relatives of NCP’s Shashikant Tapkir and Dattreya Suplekar’s members are also to enter the fray. “We are yet to decide on the names,”says a NCP member.

For the saffron RPI alliance,BJP is not giving up and has been discussing names of Aba Raskar to contest for the OBC seat. Shiv Sena’s Arjun Jangawale too is another name being discussed. For the women’s seat Priti Nazerkar,Sangeeta Chore are being discussed. MNS which does not yet have a presence will see some keen aspirants from the area contest the civic polls. Names of Ravi Bansode,Sagar Pawar are doing the rounds.