Pune BJP Set to Lead PCMC Again as Elected Governance Returns After Long Gap

After nearly four years under administrators, BJP regains control of the Pimpri‑Chinchwad Municipal Corporation with elected governance returning and elders set to assume mayoral posts.

Pune | 05 February, 2026 – Elected governance is finally returning to the Pimpri‑Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) after a hiatus of nearly four years, marking a significant moment in the region’s civic administration. The corporation, which has been under direct administrative control since 2022, will see corporators take charge once again, ushering in a new chapter of local self-government after an extended period of delays.

The delay in holding elections had multiple causes, including pandemic-related disruptions, prolonged litigation over reservation quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), court proceedings, and shifting political dynamics in Maharashtra. As a result, administrators managed the civic body’s affairs in the interim, pending the return of elected representatives.

With municipal elections finally held in mid-January and counting completed shortly after, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest political force in the PCMC, winning 84 out of 128 seats and securing a clear majority. Other parties include the Nationalist Congress Party with 37 seats, the Shiv Sena with six seats, and one independent candidate.

As elected governance resumes, Ravi Landge of the BJP is poised to be elected unopposed as mayor, emphasizing the party’s dominance in the civic body. For the deputy mayor position, BJP’s Sharmila Babar and the NCP’s Vaishali Kalbhor have filed nominations, setting the stage for either a contest or a withdrawal ahead of the special general meeting. The venue for this historic session will be the Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium at PCMC headquarters, which has been prepared for the assembly of corporators after years of administrative rule.

The five-year term for the new PCMC corporators is slated to begin immediately and will continue until February 2031, bringing local accountability back to the forefront of civic governance. Analysts note that this strong BJP performance reflects broader trends seen in civic elections across Maharashtra, where the party has also pushed ahead in municipal outcomes, including in Pune and Mumbai.

Political experts suggest that the BJP’s resurgence in PCMC elections not only reinstates elected leadership but also carries implications for future urban policy, infrastructure priorities, and grassroots accountability. With city services ranging from sanitation to traffic planning and public safety now under elected officials, local residents will closely monitor how governance changes from administrative oversight to representative leadership.

Historically, the PCMC had been ruled by elected bodies until 2022, including during previous BJP administrations. The administration era was intended as a temporary measure, but complex legal and political hurdles prolonged the absence of elected representatives in one of the region’s most populous and economically significant civic bodies.

Returning to local self-government after nearly four years presents both challenges and opportunities. Residents and civic activists have expressed expectations for improvements in everyday services, greater transparency in budgeting, and local solutions to infrastructure problems. Community leaders have emphasized that while elections determine representation, the true measure of success will be how swiftly and effectively new corporators address backlog issues such as road improvements, water management, and urban planning.

In conclusion, the resumption of elected governance in PCMC represents a pivotal restoration of democratic civic administration. With the BJP set to lead once again and corporators taking oath, the next five years could redefine civic governance in Pimpri‑Chinchwad. The real test for the political leadership will lie in addressing local needs, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring efficient delivery of public services.

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