The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) came under fire for releasing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just a few hours before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect Monday with the announcement of the schedule for elections to 29 municipal corporations. Opposition parties in Maharashtra termed the action as tantamount to campaigning for the ruling parties.
Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, however, dismissed the allegations that he had violated the poll code by issuing the tenders.
”Just a few hours before the poll code came into effect, PCMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar approved tenders worth Rs 250 crore. Of these, Rs 154 crore tenders are for security staff. Additionally, there are other tenders. Was this subject so urgent? When the elected corporators are not there, how can the administration give such approvals?” asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Mukund Kirdat.
He asked whether it would violate the poll code of conduct if the ruling Mahayuti candidates highlighted such tenders during the campaign. ”The State Election Commission will have to clarify this,” he said.
He said the PCMC commissioner was behaving as if he were a pawn in the ruling parties’ hands. ”We strongly condemn his action, which is clearly favouring the ruling parties at the time of the elections,” Kirdat alleged.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari said, ”Why were the tenders not issued last week or a month ago? How did the PCMC administration realise that work worth crores of rupees is pending? And how come they are releasing the tenders just a few hours before the code comes into effect? Were they informed about it by the Election Commission? People have a right to know about these things. We want to know whether the poll code has been violated.”
Activist Maruti Bhapkar claimed that the way the tenders were issued reveals the extent to which the government will go to safeguard its interests.
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”They have no regard for the poll code. They can break the norms with impunity. What is surprising is the silence from the State Election Commission. Why is the EC not being more transparent on this? It should clarify whether such issues of tenders fall within the framework of law and the code of conduct,” Bhapkar said.
No big projects sanctioned, says PCMC commissioner
Downplaying the allegations, Municipal Commissioner Hardikar told The Indian Express, ”It was a mundane standing committee. No major projects were sanctioned, and no policy decisions were made. Several small works, including repairs and improvements, had been pending. Almost all of them are smaller works, such as nullah repairs, road patchworks, drainage improvements, and the like. No new work has been undertaken. All these are necessary and important works.”
Besides, Hardikar said the tenders were issued without any idea that the code could come into play. ”Our decision was taken when no one had an idea that poll code would come into play. After we made the decision, the poll code took effect. There was no information that the Election Commission was slated to hold a press conference,” he said.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission Monday announced the election schedule for the 29 municipal corporations in the state, including Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The voting is scheduled for January 15, with counting on January 16.
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.
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