NCP flag flutters in Pimpri-Chinchwad again

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured absolute power in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for the second consecutive time. The party secured 83 out of the 128 seats.

The Congress party won only 14 seats; Shiv Sena 14; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 3; Maharashtra Navnirman Sena 4; independents 9; and Republican Party of India 1 seat.

The NCP opened its account in the PCMC with two of its candidates getting elected unopposed, namely Shakuntala Dharade from Pimple Gurav, panel 57 and Ramdas Bokad from Vaiduvasti,  panel 56.

Twenty-three NCP corporators retained their seats, including mayor Yogesh Behl; deputy mayor Dabbu Aswani; former mayor RS Kumar; Mangala Kadam; former standing chairman Ajit Gavhane; Prashant Shitole; Datta Sane and NCP house leader Jagdish Shetty and his brother Ulhas Shetty.

Sitting corporators Mohini Vilas Lande, Mahesh Landge, Nanda Takwane, Raju Misal, Jitendra Nanaware, Vilas Chandgude, Vimal Jagtap, Kailash Thopte, Tanaji Khade, Savita Salunkhe, Javed Shaikh and Rajendra Kate also won NCP seats again.

In the 2007 election, the NCP had received an absolute majority in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The NCP won 70 out of 105 seats in the PCMC.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar led a strong campaign in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

He had attended 24 public meetings and three road shows, besides controlling party factionalism.