You said:PMC Election: Ward No. 13 Witnesses High-Profile Contest Between BJP’s Suryakant Nikalje and Congress’ Arvind ShindeYou said:
PMC Election: Ward 13 High-Profile Contest Between BJP and Congress in Pune
January 15, 2026 | Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) election in Ward No. 13 is emerging as one of the city’s closely observed contests, with a direct face-off between BJP candidate Suryakant Nikalje and Pune city Congress president Arvind Shinde.
Ward No. 13 includes prominent localities such as Pune Station, Jai Jawan Nagar, Bund Garden Road, Lumbini Nagar, Dhole Patil Road, Tadiwala Road, and surrounding areas. The constituency features a mixed voter base comprising working-class settlements, residential societies, commercial zones, and service-sector populations, making it electorally significant.
Both candidates are considered well-acquainted with the ward’s civic and political landscape. In the previous PMC election, Suryakant Nikalje had contested on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket and recorded a close contest, losing by a narrow margin of a few hundred votes. Political observers note that despite limited organisational support at the time, his outreach and local presence contributed to a competitive performance.
In the current election, Nikalje is contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket and is expected to gain from the party’s organisational structure and coordinated campaign efforts. BJP workers have stepped up outreach activities in recent weeks, including door-to-door interactions, which have added visibility to the campaign. Party functionaries indicate that the combination of local familiarity and structured mobilisation could influence voter response.
Congress candidate Arvind Shinde, meanwhile, is relying on his senior political experience and role as Pune city Congress president. Shinde has established recognition across the city, and party leaders believe this may help consolidate traditional support in the ward. However, local-level factors and constituency-specific issues are expected to play a key role in shaping the final outcome.
As campaigning progresses, Ward No. 13 remains a key constituency to watch in the PMC elections, with both parties focusing on voter engagement and local issues.
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