As NCPs unite for PCMC polls, BJP scoffs at them: ‘won’t make a difference to us’

In the 2017 PCMC elections, the BJP won a brute majority of 78 seats, and held the reins of the civic body until 2022.

Raju Durge, another prominent BJP leader in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said the party is selecting candidates on “elective merit” for the January 15 civic body polls. (Representational image/File)

A day after both NCPs joined hands for the elections to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the BJP said Monday that their alliance won’t make a difference as it was all set to romp home with a landslide victory.

In the 2017 PCMC elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won a brute majority of 78 seats, and held the reins of the civic body until 2022.

“Let them unite and contest the elections against us. It will not make a difference to us. We are banking on our slogan Abki Baar, 100 Paar,” BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad president Shatrughan Kate told The Indian Express.

“We are making our preparations. We are going to field strong candidates as we did in the last elections. Importantly, we have a strong base in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Our worry is the rebellion. But we are confident of quelling it..”

When asked about the possible alliance with the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Kate said, “We are still in discussion. Seat-sharing has not been finalised so far”.

Kate also denied that there will be a friendly fight with the Nationalist Congress Party in Pimpri-Chinchwad as announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Elections are elections. We are pitted against each other. There will be a fight between the two parties,” he said.

On allegations made by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar about corruption in PCMC during the BJP rule, Kate said, “We are not making any allegations… We are going to fight the elections on the issue of development”.

Selecting candidates

Story continues below this ad

Raju Durge, another prominent BJP leader in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said the party is selecting candidates on “elective merit” for the January 15 civic body polls.

“Every candidate we have selected is a winner. We are already pretty confident about 70 candidates. It means they are winners. Now, we are looking at how many we can add. We can go up to 100 or might even cross it..”

Durge said they never considered NCPs as two units. “The two NCPs have come together because they know they won’t survive on the election turf. They have no strength to fight. In fact, the situation of Sharad Pawar’s party is so bad that it might not get a single candidate elected,” he said.

The NCP (SP) currently has two former corporators in its fold. However, Durge said they are not writing off the NCP. “Last time, the NCP won 36 wards. This time too, they will be between 30 and 40. It will be an achievement in itself after the split. But we don’t believe they will pose a serious threat to us. We will return to power in Pimpri-Chinchwad,” Durge said.

Story continues below this ad

Durge added that since Ajit Pawar commented on the corruption issue, the NCP will get a befitting reply. “They have ignited it; they will get a strong riposte from us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yogesh Behl, president of the NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, said both parties are discussing seat-sharing. “The NCP (SP) was initially demanding 29 seats. Now, they have come down to 20 seats. We are ready to offer them between 15-18 seats. The seat-sharing has not been finalised. It might happen today or by tomorrow morning,” Behl said.

Asked about the possibility of joining hands with the Shiv Sena, Behl said, “We have learnt that the talks between the Sena and the BJP have failed. The Sena has demanded 13 seats from us. We are ready to give six seats. They have not yet got back to us.”

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