Saffron combine hopes to retain the bastion

This panel includes Deenanath Mangeshkar electoral ward represented by BJP's Medha Kulkarni and Tathawade Udyan ward represented by Shiv Sena's Usha Kelkar.

This panel includes Deenanath Mangeshkar electoral ward represented by BJP’s Medha Kulkarni and Tathawade Udyan ward represented by Shiv Sena’s Usha Kelkar. This area,largely consisting of middle and higher-middle class population,has been dominated by the saffron parties since 2003 and the sitting corporators are confident of retaining their place.

Both Kulkarni and Kelkar were elected from their respective wards in 2002 when 33 per cent women reservation was applied. In the next elections in 2007,Kulkarni was the only woman in Pune who was elected from a open (general) category ward. It was possible because of the confidence of the people in me and my work. Therefore,I am not worried about the new reservations of this panel, she said.

Kulkarni said that there are three issues including looking for space for a sports complex,a biogas plant and re-introduction of the bus route from Patwardhan Baug to Mandai are being chased. We had agitated for this bus route and forced the then PMT administration to introduce this route. However,it was discontinued after the formation of PMPML as the earning per kilometre was less. We plant to re-introduce this route by means of agitation, she said.

According to the residents,traffic is the burning issue in this area,which needs immediate attention. “The road from Karishma Society to City Pride Kothrud needs dividers for easy movement of traffic. Also,encroachments on footpaths in this area need to be tackled with as it is very difficult for pedestrians to walk considering the heavy traffic on roads,” said M R Ambekar,a resident of Swapnashilpa Society.

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