Pune: NCP Struggles to Appoint City President in Pimpri-Chinchwad as Assembly Elections Loom

Pune:

As the assembly elections draw near, Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) finds itself without a city president in Pimpri-Chinchwad, a region that was once a stronghold for the Deputy Chief Minister. Several strong contenders for the post are eyeing the upcoming assembly elections, leaving the party unable to fill the critical position of city president.

Pimpri-Chinchwad, after Baramati, was a key area of influence for Ajit Pawar. For 15 consecutive years, the NCP held power in the Municipal Corporation, making the city president role highly coveted. However, since Pawar’s decision to align with the BJP-led Mahayuti government, the political landscape has shifted dramatically.

In July 2024, former city president Ajit Gavhane, who intended to contest from the Bhosari assembly constituency, resigned from his post. Gavhane and a group of former corporators defected to Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP following the party’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. In response, Ajit Pawar convened a series of meetings with city leaders to prevent further defections, promising an immediate appointment of a new president. Despite these efforts, the position remains vacant more than two months later.

Local leaders have proposed several names for the role, including Pimpri MLA Anna Bansode, former mayor Yogesh Bahl, Jagdish Shetty, Nana Kate, and Bhausaheb Bhoir. However, many of these people are focused on contesting upcoming elections, with Bansode vying for a seat in the Pimpri assembly and others like Bahl, Kate, and Bhoir also angling for MLA posts. Consequently, none of them have accepted the post of city president.

Frustration is growing among party officials, who are concerned about the lack of leadership as the elections approach.

Parth Pawar Takes On Responsibility in Pimpri-Chinchwad

With Ajit Pawar managing state-level responsibilities as the party’s national president and deputy chief minister, his son Parth Pawar appears to be taking on an increased role in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Parth has been visiting the city regularly, overseeing party activities, and interacting with local mandals during the recent Ganeshotsav festival. Though he has hinted that a city president will be appointed, he recently emphasised that all party office bearers are equally important in their roles.