PCMC Election Results: Women Take 64 Seats, BJP Claims Majority
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections for 2026 have delivered a significant outcome for women's representation. Out of the 128-member general body, voters have elected 64 women corporators. This marks a notable moment in the civic body's history.
Among these 64 winners, 63 represent established political parties. Only one candidate secured victory as an independent. The election process saw intense competition, with one woman candidate clinching her seat by a mere 21 votes.
BJP Emerges as Dominant Force in Women's Seats
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has clearly established its lead in this segment. The party now holds 42 women corporators within the PCMC. This gives the BJP a commanding position among the elected women members.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, follows with 18 women corporators. The Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, has secured 3 seats. This distribution highlights the shifting political alliances within Maharashtra.
Voter turnout among women was robust. Pimpri-Chinchwad has a total of 8,07,966 registered women voters. Of this number, 4,63,827 women cast their ballots. This translates to a participation rate of 57.41 percent.
Landslide Victories and Narrow Margins Define the Polls
The election results showcased a mix of overwhelming wins and tight contests. Seven women candidates recorded massive victory margins, each surpassing 10,000 votes. All seven of these landslide winners belong to the BJP.
Sarika Gaikwad of the BJP achieved the highest margin. She defeated her NCP rival, Anuradhya Solunke, by 16,011 votes in Prabhag No. 3. The Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate in that ward finished a distant third.
Other BJP candidates with large margins include:
- Sneha Kalate (14,349 votes)
- Reshma Bhujbal (14,256 votes)
- Shruti Dolas (13,574 votes)
- Hirabai Ghule (12,992 votes)
- Archana Saste (12,991 votes)
- Shaileja More (12,866 votes)
While More and Ghule have prior experience as deputy mayors, the other five are first-time corporators. This indicates a blend of experience and new faces entering the civic body.
The Closest Contest: A Win by 21 Votes
The most dramatic race unfolded in Prabhag No. 19. Savita Aswani of the NCP secured victory by an incredibly narrow margin of just 21 votes. She received 9,525 votes, while her BJP opponent, Jayshree Gawde, polled 9,504.
Dhanraj Aswani, the husband of the winning candidate, described the tense counting process. He stated that the lead changed hands multiple times during the rounds. Supporters of the rival candidate prematurely celebrated, but the final round confirmed Aswani's win.
Following the declaration, the Gawde camp requested a recount. The returning officer, Pallavi Ghatge, clarified that only postal votes would be rechecked, not all EVM votes. The candidate then left the venue.
Independent Winner and Defeats of Former Corporators
Shalini Gujar stands out as the sole independent candidate to win a seat. She represents the Thergaon area. Her husband explained that she was initially a BJP nominee, but the party failed to submit her AB form on time. The BJP later sponsored her candidacy.
The elections also saw some upsets. In the Scheduled Cate category open to all, several former women corporators lost to male candidates.
Former NCP corporator Seema Sawale expressed disappointment after her defeat. She lost by 256 votes to Dr. Suhas Kamble. Sawale emphasized her two decades of service and vowed to continue advocating for her area.
Similarly, former corporators Sulakshna Dhar and Chandrakanta Sonkamble faced defeats. Seven women candidates lost their races by margins of less than 1,000 votes, highlighting the competitive nature of these polls.
The 2026 PCMC elections have set a clear precedent for women's political participation in the region. The results reflect voter preferences and the evolving dynamics of local governance in Maharashtra's industrial hub.
