The political landscape in Pune is heating up as the process for the upcoming civic body elections gains momentum. With the nomination filing set to commence in January, major political players are in a race against time to finalize their candidates. The constituent parties of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance have particularly swung into action, initiating a rigorous screening process for aspirants.
Congress and NCP (SP) Ramp Up Preparations
The Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) have both embarked on interviewing potential candidates for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. Senior local functionaries from both parties have indicated that they aim to wrap up these initial interviews by the coming Sunday. This parallel exercise is crucial as the two allies are yet to finalize a concrete seat-sharing agreement, though they have publicly committed to contesting the polls together.
At the Congress Bhavan in the city, the party is witnessing a significant turnout. Hundreds of aspirants have expressed their willingness to contest on the party ticket, prompting leaders to conduct interviews for all wards. "Since seat-sharing plans are still to be finalised, the party has decided to hold interviews for all seats. Congress has a strong presence in many pockets," revealed a senior party functionary who chose to remain anonymous.
Selection Criteria and Strategy
The selection process is not merely a formality. Congress leaders stated that candidates will be evaluated on multiple parameters, with winnability being a prime factor. Other key considerations include the aspirant's vision and concrete plans for the city's development. The party has also emphasized that it will ensure adequate representation for the youth in its final list of candidates.
Beyond candidate selection, Congress is also drafting a strategic campaign. A party leader highlighted an aggressive plan to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempts to spread misinformation among residents. The leader asserted that while Congress has played a vital role in proposing and executing key projects in Pune, the BJP is falsely claiming credit for these initiatives.
NCP (SP) Joins the Fray with Scheduled Interviews
Echoing the proactive stance, the NCP (SP) Pune city unit, under the leadership of Prashant Jagtap, has announced its interview schedule. Aspirants will be interviewed on Thursday and Friday by a panel comprising senior functionaries and existing corporators. Jagtap confirmed that a meeting with MVA alliance partners to discuss and chalk out further plans for the PMC polls will be convened shortly.
The flurry of activity underscores the importance both parties are placing on the urban local body elections. With the nomination process around the corner, the completion of these interviews by the weekend is a critical step. The subsequent seat-sharing negotiations within the MVA will be the next major milestone, determining the final electoral battlefield against the ruling BJP in Pune's civic polity.
