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In the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, a tug-of-war for candidates between BJP and NCP; strategy for 36 seats
Pimpri, December 27, 2025 (Online Lokmat Correspondent): The political tussle between the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar group) has intensified for the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections in 2027. The BJP has now targeted the 36 seats won by the NCP in the last election and has started efforts to bring former corporators and office-bearers from the party into its fold. On the other hand, the NCP has also devised a strategy to attract second-ranking candidates from the BJP. This 'poaching' battle between the two parties will be decisive for securing power in the municipal corporation.
In the 2017 elections, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP implemented 'Operation Lotus' and dismantled the NCP's stronghold. At that time, many leaders and corporators from the Ajit Pawar group switched to the BJP. This included 18 people from Bhosari and 12 corporators from Chinchwad. As a result, the BJP secured 77 seats, while the NCP had to be content with only 36 seats. Now the situation has reversed, and the NCP, which is part of the ruling coalition, has given the slogan of 'going it alone'.
The BJP has inducted many leaders from the NCP. These include former Mayor Sanjog Waghere, former Standing Committee Chairperson Usha Waghere, leader Rahul Kalate, former Mayor Raju Misal, Prashant Shitole, Navnath Jagtap, former Leader of the Opposition Vinod Nadhe, former Deputy Mayor Prabhakar Waghere, former corporators Sanjay Kate, Asha Suryavanshi, Praveen Bhalekar, Sameer Masulkar, Prasad Shetty, and Jalinder Shinde. Seven out of nine Shiv Sena corporators have also joined the BJP. This has made the leaders of the Ajit Pawar group uneasy.
On the other hand, many leaders from the BJP have also switched to the NCP. Initially, Tushar Kamthe left the party, and now Standing Committee Chairperson Seema Sawale, former corporator Sandeep Waghere, and many others have joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This political maneuvering is increasing the strength of the NCP.
The BJP is now preparing to field strong candidates in the wards where the NCP was successful in the last election. This includes wards 9 (Nehrunagar), 12 (Talawade), 20 (Sant Tukaramnagar), 21 (Pimpri Gaon), 22 (Kalewadi), 30 (Dapodi), 5 (Gavhane Wasti), 14 (Akurdi Gaothan), 16 (Ravet, Kiwale), 28 (Pimple Saudagar), 1 (Chikhli), 3 (Charholi), 8 (Indrayaninagar), 13 (Nigdi Gaothan), 15 (Pradhikaran), 18 (Chinchwad Gaon), 24 (Thergaon, Ganeshnagar) and 25 (Wakad Gaothan).
The political future of Pimpri-Chinchwad depends on how successful the strategies of both parties will be in this election.
Pimpri, December 27, 2025 (Online Lokmat Correspondent): The political tussle between the BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar group) has intensified for the upcoming Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections in 2027. The BJP has now targeted the 36 seats won by the NCP in the last election and has started efforts to bring former corporators and office-bearers from the party into its fold. On the other hand, the NCP has also devised a strategy to attract second-ranking candidates from the BJP. This 'poaching' battle between the two parties will be decisive for securing power in the municipal corporation.
In the 2017 elections, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP implemented 'Operation Lotus' and dismantled the NCP's stronghold. At that time, many leaders and corporators from the Ajit Pawar group switched to the BJP. This included 18 people from Bhosari and 12 corporators from Chinchwad. As a result, the BJP secured 77 seats, while the NCP had to be content with only 36 seats. Now the situation has reversed, and the NCP, which is part of the ruling coalition, has given the slogan of 'going it alone'.
The BJP has inducted many leaders from the NCP. These include former Mayor Sanjog Waghere, former Standing Committee Chairperson Usha Waghere, leader Rahul Kalate, former Mayor Raju Misal, Prashant Shitole, Navnath Jagtap, former Leader of the Opposition Vinod Nadhe, former Deputy Mayor Prabhakar Waghere, former corporators Sanjay Kate, Asha Suryavanshi, Praveen Bhalekar, Sameer Masulkar, Prasad Shetty, and Jalinder Shinde. Seven out of nine Shiv Sena corporators have also joined the BJP. This has made the leaders of the Ajit Pawar group uneasy.
On the other hand, many leaders from the BJP have also switched to the NCP. Initially, Tushar Kamthe left the party, and now Standing Committee Chairperson Seema Sawale, former corporator Sandeep Waghere, and many others have joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This political maneuvering is increasing the strength of the NCP.
The BJP is now preparing to field strong candidates in the wards where the NCP was successful in the last election. This includes wards 9 (Nehrunagar), 12 (Talawade), 20 (Sant Tukaramnagar), 21 (Pimpri Gaon), 22 (Kalewadi), 30 (Dapodi), 5 (Gavhane Wasti), 14 (Akurdi Gaothan), 16 (Ravet, Kiwale), 28 (Pimple Saudagar), 1 (Chikhli), 3 (Charholi), 8 (Indrayaninagar), 13 (Nigdi Gaothan), 15 (Pradhikaran), 18 (Chinchwad Gaon), 24 (Thergaon, Ganeshnagar) and 25 (Wakad Gaothan).
The political future of Pimpri-Chinchwad depends on how successful the strategies of both parties will be in this election.
In the 2017 elections, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP implemented 'Operation Lotus' and dismantled the NCP's stronghold. At that time, many leaders and corporators from the Ajit Pawar group switched to the BJP. This included 18 people from Bhosari and 12 corporators from Chinchwad. As a result, the BJP secured 77 seats, while the NCP had to be content with only 36 seats. Now the situation has reversed, and the NCP, which is part of the ruling coalition, has given the slogan of 'going it alone'.
The BJP has inducted many leaders from the NCP. These include former Mayor Sanjog Waghere, former Standing Committee Chairperson Usha Waghere, leader Rahul Kalate, former Mayor Raju Misal, Prashant Shitole, Navnath Jagtap, former Leader of the Opposition Vinod Nadhe, former Deputy Mayor Prabhakar Waghere, former corporators Sanjay Kate, Asha Suryavanshi, Praveen Bhalekar, Sameer Masulkar, Prasad Shetty, and Jalinder Shinde. Seven out of nine Shiv Sena corporators have also joined the BJP. This has made the leaders of the Ajit Pawar group uneasy.
On the other hand, many leaders from the BJP have also switched to the NCP. Initially, Tushar Kamthe left the party, and now Standing Committee Chairperson Seema Sawale, former corporator Sandeep Waghere, and many others have joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This political maneuvering is increasing the strength of the NCP.
The BJP is now preparing to field strong candidates in the wards where the NCP was successful in the last election. This includes wards 9 (Nehrunagar), 12 (Talawade), 20 (Sant Tukaramnagar), 21 (Pimpri Gaon), 22 (Kalewadi), 30 (Dapodi), 5 (Gavhane Wasti), 14 (Akurdi Gaothan), 16 (Ravet, Kiwale), 28 (Pimple Saudagar), 1 (Chikhli), 3 (Charholi), 8 (Indrayaninagar), 13 (Nigdi Gaothan), 15 (Pradhikaran), 18 (Chinchwad Gaon), 24 (Thergaon, Ganeshnagar) and 25 (Wakad Gaothan).
The political future of Pimpri-Chinchwad depends on how successful the strategies of both parties will be in this election.
