First 'Nagari Sanghatana' in Pune was a big hit

Even as city activists launched the 'Pune Nagrik Sanghatana' on Monday to provide an alternative to political parties, this is not the first time that such an initiative has been launched in the city.

In fact, a powerful Nagari Sanghatana formed of civic activists was launched in the early 1960s, which continued to influence the city politics till the 1980s. It was supported by a leading Marathi daily at the instance of the crusading journalist-publisher, Nanasaheb Parulekar.

Former deputy mayor Satish Desai, who was elected in 1979 to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on the ticket of Nagari Sanghatana, told DNA there was a committee under the leadership of prominent activist Nilubhau Limaye to manage the political activities of the Sanghatana. Prominent labour leader Baba Adhav was among the members of the committee.

The Nagari Sanghatana fielded candidates since the early 1960s in the PMC elections and had a significant success in the 1979 elections, when nine of its candidates were elected corporators. In that election, Congress city president Aminuddin Penwale was defeated by Sanghatna candidate Shantilal Suratwala, while Janata Party city president Anna Joshi was defeated by Satish Desai.

In those days, the Janata Party was in power at the Centre. After some years, Suratwala became mayor of Pune, while Desai was elected deputy mayor.

The Nagari Sanghatana suffered a blow in 1983 when eight of its nine corporators left it and joined the Congress party. Only NT Pawar was left behind in the Sanghatana and subsequently this organisation lost its political significance.