Pune, 15 January 2026: After a gap of nearly nine years, voters of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are casting their votes to elect new municipal councils. Polling is being held from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
In Pune, the political fate of 1,153 candidates will be decided, while 691 candidates are in the fray in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The elections have generated strong interest among voters, but also anxiety among candidates. The main contest is between BJP and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Although both parties are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance at the state level, they are fighting each other directly in these civic polls. BJP has been in power in both corporations since 2017, but the NCP has now mounted a serious challenge.
In several wards of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the contest is multi-cornered, making the race unpredictable. With close fights in many areas, some candidates are focusing more on personal votes rather than party panels, raising the possibility of cross-voting and surprise results.
Voter turnout is another major concern. In the last four Pune municipal elections, turnout has not crossed 55 percent. To prevent a repeat, political parties have activated their ground machinery. Vehicles such as cars, two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws have been arranged to bring voters to polling stations, especially those who have moved due to redevelopment or relocation.
With high political stakes, intense competition and a focus on boosting turnout, today’s voting is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the future of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad’s local governance.