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Maharashtra civic polls: With 2 former party legislators in BJP camp, Congress virtually non-existent in Saswad and Bhor

The Congress managed to field only one candidate in the Bhor Nagar Parishad, which has 21 wards.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Nov 29, 2025 06:59 PM IST

Preparations for the Bhor Nagar Parishad (Municipal Council) elections on in full swing through election campaigning vehicles. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

After the debacle in the state assembly and Lok Sabha polls last year, when not even a single Congress candidate got elected in Pune district, the Grand Old Party has almost disappeared from the political map of the district that was once its bastion.

In recent years, the Congress was somehow able to hold its fort in Saswad Nagar Parishad and Bhor Nagar Parishad due to the leadership of Sanjay Jagtap and Sangram Thopte, respectively. But with both switching over to the BJP, the Congress now has little presence in the ongoing civic polls.

In Bhor, Thopte continued to hold the political reins for decades, but his defeat in the Assembly elections by the NCP candidate paved the way for a mega change in the politics of the region. Thopte jumped over to the BJP, cutting decades-old ties with the Congress. Now, Thopte is leading the BJP’s charge against the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to establish supremacy in local politics.

Campaigning on in full swing in the Saswad Nagar Parishad area. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

“There are 49 candidates in fray for 21 wards of Bhor Nagar Parishad. However, only one Congress candidate is contesting the civic elections while the BJP and the NCP are contesting all the seats,” said Gajanan Shinde, CEO, Bhor Nagar Parishad.

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Bhor resident Shreyas Jambhulkar noted, “Except one, the Congress could not even field candidates in civic polls despite holding power for decades. This means the Congress is finished as all its workers have switched over to the BJP along with the leaders. The BJP had a very bleak presence in the area, and suddenly it got a much-needed push under the leadership of Thopte.”

Though the BJP and the NCP are allies at the state and national levels, he said that there is a tough fight between the two in Bhor Nagar Parishad. The municipality falls under the Baramati parliamentary constituency.

In Saswad, too, former Congress district unit chief Sanjay Jagtap switched over to the BJP. The Saswad Nagar Parishad is witnessing a triangular fight among the BJP led by Jagtap, Shiv Sena led by MLA Vijay Shivtare and the Shiv Sena (UBT), which is contesting with the support of the NCP(SP) and the Congress.

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“It is time for voters to stand by those committed to the development of Saswad and a candidate who has self-respect and does not change political parties for personal gains,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Abhijit Jagtap, who is contesting for the post of president of Saswad Nagar Parishad.

Local Trader Suresh Mojhe said, “The Saswad civic body has seen good development under the leadership of Sanjay Jagtap. It has been awarded at the national level for cleanliness. Many believe in the ideology of the Congress, but no one is there to lead the party.”

The elections to the Bhor and Saswad Nagar Parishads will be held on December 2, and the counting will be conducted on December 3.

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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