Pune results: Polls throw up hung house, NCP single largest party

It was deja vu here as the intensely fought polls for the 152-strong Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) ultimately threw up a hung house with NCP once again emerging the single largest party bagging 51 seats and Raj Thackeray-led MNS coming second in the final tally with 29 seats, relegating Congress to a poor third.

But the poll arithmetic clearly indicated that both Congress and NCP are certain to join hands to capture power in PMC with their combined tally which gives them a majority. Congress won 28 seats.

The voting to elect a new general body of PMC was held yesterday and counting of votes took place today.

The results of the election, in which the Congress campaign was spearheaded by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, came as a big blow for the party which remained on the defensive owing to the Suresh Kalmadi factor.

Congress candidates considered close to the tainted city MP, too, suffered defeat. They included Sangita Tiwari, Amit Bagul, Virendra Kirad and Deputy Mayor Prasanna Jagtap.

However, Avinash Bagve, son of former Maharashtra Minister Ramesh Bagve, a close associate of Kalmadi, was declared elected defeating Sandip Ladkat of NCP.

While MNS, in a surprise package, edged past Congress, for NCP, which fought the polls without an alliance with its coalition partner at the State and Centre, the outcome came as a disappointment in the absence of a clear majority which had eluded it in the last (2007) civic election also.

Short of the magic figure, NCP had then carved out the controversial "Pune Pattern" by joining hands with the Shiv Sena-BJP saffron alliance when the Kalmadi-led city Congress refused to support NCP whose affairs were managed by Ajit Pawar, a known detractor of Kalmadi.

The arrangement lasted for two-and-a-half years and ended at the time of 2009 general elections due to inherent contradictions.

The NCP campaign was led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was joined by party President and Union Minister Sharad Pawar in seeking an absolute majority for "development of Pune".

Their appeal went unheeded in the city, which has a host of civic problems, including deficient water supply, a dormant metro project, traffic woos, bad road conditions, inefficient public transport as well as high levels of air pollution.

The Opposition, in the form of a "Mahayuti" (grand alliance) forged by Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI, too failed to win the voters' support and the dark horse of MNS staged a spectacular show, improving manifold its tally of 7 in the outgoing House.

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal (NCP) and his Deputy Prasanna Jagtap (Congress) both lost seats to their BJP rivals.

An accelerated political activity is now expected, in a repeat of the 2007 predicament, spurring hectic lobbying among parties to bargain and come to power in PMC.

This time, however, NCP and Congress can explore a power equation in the absence of Kalmadi, who stands suspended from the party. The combined strength of both the parties can muster a majority in the House.

Even though NCP and Congress indulged in acrimonious attacks on each other during the high pitch campaign, the Chief Minister had not ruled out a post-poll understanding with "like-minded parties" to keep "communal forces" out of power in PMC.

The final party position was: NCP 51, MNS 29, Congress 28, BJP 26, Shiv Sena 15, RPI 2 and Independent 1.

In the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), however, NCP retained its hold, securing an absolute majority by bagging 83 seats in the 128-member House. The MNS made its mark in PCMC also opening its account for the first time and winning four seats.

Springing a surprise, Raj Thackeray's MNS is second largest with 21 seats, BJP 17 and Shiv Sena eight. The Congress-NCP combine had won the elections to the Pune municipal body in 2007.

PCMC: NCP get definite majority
Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Friday secured clear majority in the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), winning 73 out of 124 seats, the results for which were declared by late afternoon.

Four results are yet to be declared.

NCP was followed by Congress which could bag 16 seats, while Shiv Sena won 14 seats.

A highlight of the PCMC election was the noteworthy performance of Raj Thackeray-led MNS, which opened its account by winning four seats. MNS had no member in the outgoing house.

Congress' poor scores due to rebels?
The Shiv Sena office wore a deserted look while there was an unusual silence at Congress Bhavan in Pune when the initial results of civic polls came out.

The sole person Makrand Petkar at the Shiv Sena office said, "We have no television set in the office, I’m getting to know how Shiv Sena is faring in the election through phone calls."

He said that people come to office to know the results.

Interestingly, people were equipped with more knowledge than Petkar. Although, Deepak Mankar won his seat, the mood wasn’t jubilant at Congress Bhavan. Word got around that the poor score of Congress was because of rebels and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's effect.

Pune city Congress head Abhay Chajjed had mentioned that the party will not go for alliance as it will garner thumping victory. Well, going by initial figures Congress won 18, NCP 25, SS 5, BJP 19, MNS 14 and independent 1. These were the figures by 1.30 pm.
Manisha Saraf Joshi

Defeated Pune Mayor alleges misuse of PMC money
Defeated Pune Mayor Mohan Singh Rajpal of NCP said, "I accept the verdict  of the people. The standing committee used public funds in the election."

It may be mentioned that Ganesh Bidkar of BJP who defeated Rajpal is PMC Standing Committee chairman.

PMC: Nilesh Nikam of NCP loses by 150 votes
Former PMC standing committee chairman Nilesh Nikam of NCP lost by 150 votes.

MNS celebrates Rajendra Wagaska's leads
As soon as the news of MNS candidate Rajendra Wagaskar leading in Panel 21 (A) broke out, MNS supporters were jubilant and they started celebrations in the Koregaon park area with bike rallies and MNS slogans. Crackers were burst in Bund garden area and many supporters could be seen on their mobile phones trying to call Wagaskar to congratulate him.

The counting at the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad memorial brought life in the area near German Bakery once again after two years, as supporters of all the parties gathered in and around North Main road area right from 7:00 am on Friday.

Disturbance reported in various areas
The online election result declaration system for the Pune Municipal Corporation is back in action.

However, disturbances are being reported from various parts of the city at the counting centres. At Ghole road counting centre journalists had to complain to the state election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan as they were not allowed inside. Same problem was reported from Aundh.

The online system for declaration of results for the PMC election had earlier crashed. The main election office at Sawarkar Bhavan faced difficulties getting the results from the ward offices.

Counting has started across 14 ward offices for the elections of the 152 members house.
Partha Sarathi Biswas