Premium

CWG taint fading, but is a comeback too wishful for Suresh Kalmadi, the face of Pune, friend of Pawar to Gandhis?

A Delhi court has accepted ED’s closure report on money laundering allegations against Kalmadi. There have been calls to bring back the leader who once dominated Pune politics and the local Congress for close to three decades.

Written by: Manoj Dattatrye More, Ajay Jadhav

7 min readPuneMay 1, 2025 06:31 PM IST

Kalmadi’s golden years in the Congress began after he returned to the party fold along with Pawar in 1986. (Express archive photo)

Since a Delhi court earlier this week accepted the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) closure report on the money laundering allegations against Suresh Kalmadi linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG), there have been calls from the Congress ranks in Pune and western Maharashtra to bring back the veteran leader.

Kalmadi, the 81-year-old former MP and head of the 2010 CWG organising committee, took the reins of the Congress in Pune in 1992 and continued till he was suspended in 2011 following his arrest in connection with a separate corruption case linked to the CWG scam. Kalmadi spent nine months in prison before the Delhi High Court granted him bail in that case. After his release from prison, the Congress leader moved away from politics as the Congress also virtually froze him out, not extending him any invitation to party events and not seeking him out even after the disastrous results nationally, as well as in Maharashtra, starting in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

A former Indian Air Force pilot, Kalmadi started his political journey with the Youth Congress in the mid-1970s. Kalmadi shared a close rapport with Sharad Pawar, another young leader who was almost his contemporary, and this was instrumental in his appointment as Pune Youth Congress president in 1977. The following year, he contested his first electoral battle, from the Shivajinagar Assembly seat, but lost to the Janata Party’s Shanti Naryan Naik.

As the Congress split following the 1977 elections, Pawar also rebelled against the Congress government of Vasantdada Patil in Maharashtra and broke away with 40 MLAs to form the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government. At this time, Kalmadi followed him into the new party. However, this political experiment did not last long and after Indira Gandhi’s Congress made a comeback nationally in 1980, it dismissed the Pawar administration. Kalmadi stuck with Pawar and the Congress (S) and was rewarded as he was sent to the Rajya Sabha in 1982, the first of his four terms in the Upper House of Parliament.

Though he had thrown in his lot with Pawar, Kalmadi had already come to the attention of the Gandhis when he started making his mark in local politics, and this link to the Congress’s first family proved to be useful later for his political rise.

In 1977, Kalmadi and another activist had thrown slippers at then Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s car and protested when he was visiting Tilak Smarak Mandir in Pune. This brought Kalmadi to Sanjay Gandhi’s notice and, in 1980, he was introduced to Rajiv Gandhi at the National Defence Academy’s Passing-Out Parade. The two struck an instant rapport because of their background as pilots.

Return to the Congress

Kalmadi’s golden years in the Congress began after he returned to the party fold along with Pawar in 1986. In these years, his rising clout had also seen him in top positions at sports bodies in the country, starting with the Maharashtra State Athletics Federation president in 1980 and selection chairman of the Athletics Federation of India in 1987. He made a name as a sports organiser, starting the Pune Marathon in 1983, and this helped strengthen his political capital.

Story continues below this ad

“Kalmadi’s proximity to Rajiv Gandhi made him a powerful party leader from Pune. The early 1990s was a time when then party leader and sitting MP Vithalrao Gadgil’s charisma was on the wane. It was here that Kalmadi got an opportunity to make a mark. In the mid-1980s, he had started Pune Marathon, which brought international athletes to the city, thereby elevating the status of Pune,” said Pune City Congress general secretary Ramesh Iyer.

Besides the marathon, Kalmadi also took the initiative to start the Pune Festival, a cultural event held during the Ganesh Utsav festivities, in 1989; the Pune Vyaspeeth; and the National Games. “Pune Vyaspeeth was an apolitical forum. There, experts and intellectuals from different fields gathered to put forth their views for the development of Pune. This was again a Kalmadi initiative. Be it in holding the National Games or the Commonwealth Youth Games, they all happened because Kalmadi was the central figure. The Balewadi stadium that came up during his tenure saw big sports events,” said Iyer.

“He was close to top industrial houses such as the Bajajs, Firodias, and several others. They sponsored events if Kalmadi was at the helm. Such was the rapport he had with top industrialists,” he added.

With Pune’s image as a sports and cultural centre receiving a boost because of his initiatives, Kalmadi utilised it for political benefits and was elected to the Lok Sabha from the city in 1996. However, soon, he again broke ranks with the Congress. It was a brief parting of ways. In 1998, he took on Congress’s Vitthal Tupe in Pune as a candidate of his Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (which started as the Pune Vikas Aghadi). But he lost that election and months later returned to the Rajya Sabha on a Congress ticket.

Story continues below this ad

His grip over Pune politics, however, remained undiminished, and he was back in the Lok Sabha from the constituency in 2004 and was re-elected in 2009. This, however, remained the last high point in Kalmadi’s political career as soon afterwards came the CWG scandal and his decline.

Kalmadi’s importance

Explaining the importance of Kalmadi, Congress leaders said the party and the Nationalist Congress Party not only won the Lok Sabha elections and at least four of the six Assembly seats in Pune when Kalmadi was at the helm, it also dominated the local civic body elections in the city. Since Kalmadi got sidelined in the party, the Congress virtually collapsed in Pune, losing the last three Lok Sabha elections by massive margins and failing to win any Assembly constituency in the last three Assembly polls (the only exception was the Kasba Assembly bypoll victory in 2023).

In the Pune Municipal Corporation, the party had dominated since 1992, but its decline began after Kalmadi’s downfall in 2011, said state Congress vice-president Mohan Joshi. “In 2012, the Congress won 27 wards, down from the 40 to 45 it won in 2007. In 2017, it was the worst performance. The Congress had only 12 corporators. Had Kalmadi been at the helm, Congress would have never been ousted,” he said.

State Congress secretary Babu Nair said though Kalmadi was not keeping well, he could still play a vital role in revitalising the party. “His health is not good, age has also caught up with him but I think he still has something to give to the party.”

Story continues below this ad

“Kalmadi was always in the Congress. He is a committed Congress leader, a born Congressman …. The party’s national leadership will take a decision in this regard,” said state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe.

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

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

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 08: Latest News

Live Blog