First-timers in Pune Zilla Parishad may face uphill task

Most elected members of the Pune Zilla Parishad are in for a hard time as they are first-timers with little or no experience in its functioning. There are only five members over 50 years old. The ZP has 75 seats.

The youngest member of the ZP is Ratnamala Talekar (22), elected from Lohegaon-Dehu Ghat, while the oldest is Malan Chandgude (61) from Baramati taluka.

The new members would find it difficult to understand the functioning of the ZP without studying it. Outgoing chairperson of Pune ZP, Savita Dagde told DNA, “Most of the young candidates have to study hard to understand the working of the body.

However, the youngsters are quick to learn.”
The members over 50 years old are Subhash Mormare (53), Shantaram Sonawane (52), Shantaram Ingawale (52) and Vijkramsingh Jadhavrao (56).

Dattatrey Barne, who is viewed as a candidate for the post of ZP chairman, was elected from Walchandnagar-Kalas constituency in Indapur taluka on a Nationalist Congress Party ticket.

He had contested the state assembly election against minister for cooperatives Harshawardhan Patil and had proved a difficult contender. Since then, he came into focus in the political fraternity in Pune district.

NCP candidate Suresh Gore from Khed taluka is in the race for the post of ZP president. The NCP has a full majority in the ZP with 42 seats out of 75. When contacted, president of NCP’s district unit, Suresh Gule told DNA, “At this moment, we cannot state anyone’s name as we are focusing on the posts of panchayat samiti chairman at taluka level.”