PUNE, 10 NOV. The political landscape of Pune is set for a significant shift as the key moment determining the direction of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections arrives. The draft reservation lottery is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, November 11, which will clarify which candidates can contest from which wards. All political parties, former corporators, and new hopefuls across the city are keenly awaiting the outcome of this reservation draw. The reservations for the wards of several political stalwarts are likely to change, potentially ending the electoral run for some while opening new avenues for others.
Political Factions Gear Up
A total of 165 corporators will be elected to the Pune Municipal Corporation. The city is divided into 41 wards (Prabhag): 40 wards are four-member panels, while Ambegaon-Katraj (Ward No. 38) is a five-member panel.
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Gender Reservation: 50% of these 165 seats are reserved for women, meaning the assembly will comprise 83 women corporators and 82 men corporators.
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Caste Reservations:
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Scheduled Castes (SC): 22 seats
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Scheduled Tribes (ST): 2 seats
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Other Backward Classes (OBC): 44 seats
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The State Election Commission has outlined the reservation procedure, which will follow a rotation system to prevent the same reservation from being repeated in a ward: first ST, then SC, and finally OBC.
Major Changes Expected in Political Equations
The reservation lottery may force many former corporators to face each other in the same wards. Changes in reservation could upset the calculations of veteran leaders, while simultaneously paving the way for new faces. Consequently, many hopeful candidates are "banking on the Gods" in the hope that the reservation will favour them.
Intense Intra-Party Struggle Inevitable
With a large number of aspirants in many wards, a fierce competition for party tickets is anticipated. Several political veterans may not see their wish to return to the assembly fulfilled this time. Party leadership will face the major challenge of managing internal dissent during the ticket distribution process.
Key Dates for Reservation Process
Draft Reservation Publication: November 17
Objections and Suggestions Window: November 17 to November 24
Objection Submission Deadline: November 24, 3:00 PM
Submission Method: Objections must be submitted physically at the Municipal Head Office, Election Office, or Ward Office; online submissions (via email or website) will not be accepted.
Final Announcement: December 2
Political Parties Intensify Election Preparations
With elections for the Nagar Parishad and Nagar Panchayat in the state due in the first week of December (results on December 3), followed by Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, the PMC election is next on the agenda. The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) has already directed its workers to enter election mode. The Congress and BJP have also assigned responsibilities to relevant leaders. Both Shiv Sena factions (Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde groups) have started holding strategic meetings.
'Flex War' Erupts in the City
Against the backdrop of ward restructuring and the reservation draw, a visible 'Flex War' has started in the city. Flex banners of aspiring candidates have sprung up at numerous squares and intersections. Many parts of the city are adorned with messages like, "Call us for help with Municipal work." The draft reservation draw on November 11 is poised to create a fresh wave of political activity in the city, determining the future trajectory of Pune's politics and the fate of many leaders.
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