Pune: Candidates contesting the Pune Municipal Corporation elections have begun campaigning after the Election Commission completed the scrutiny of nomination papers on Wednesday.Campaign launches across the city reflected a mix of styles, ranging from temple visits and prayer ceremonies to formal flag-offs by senior party leaders. In several areas, dhol-tasha performances and the presence of local celebrities added colour to the campaigns.
Candidates said their primary focus over the next 10 to 12 days would be padyatras and door-to-door outreach. Entire panels are expected to campaign together, with a particular emphasis on evening interactions, when voters are more likely to be at home.Shiv Sena city organiser Anand Goyal launched his campaign along with his panel candidates from ward 6 on Thursday.Addressing party workers and residents, Goyal said the campaign marked a new phase in Pune’s political landscape. He said Shiv Sena was growing organisationally stronger in the city under the leadership of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. “The enthusiasm among workers and the positive response from citizens is encouraging,” Goyal said, adding that his campaign would focus on development, transparency and people-centric governance.“Shiv Sena is not just a political party; it is a movement that fights for the rights of the common man. With ideology, organisational strength and public trust, the path to a Shiv Sena mayor in PMC is becoming stronger,” he said.In the Dhankawadi–Ambegaon Budruk area, five BJP candidates from the ward launched their campaign together from the Shri Shankar Maharaj Math in Dhankawadi. A large number of party workers attended the flag-off, creating a charged atmosphere.BJP candidate Ashwini Amar Chindhe said, “We plan to reach as many voters as possible through home visits and personal interactions, with all panel members campaigning together for better coordination and outreach.”NCP also appeared to be preparing for an intensive campaign phase. Workers at the party’s campaign office said teams were distributing campaign material to candidates and volunteers in various wards in anticipation of heightened outreach activities.In Wanowrie, Congress leader Prashant Jagtap formally launched his election campaign on Thursday afternoon. He said his two-week-long campaign would focus on visits to housing societies and meetings with different citizens’ groups. Jagtap said this election was significant for him as it marked his first civic poll contest as an official Congress candidate. “Direct interaction with residents and understanding local issues will be my priority,” he said.In the Gokhalenagar–Wakdewadi ward, Shiv Sena candidate Sonali Landge began her campaign with home visits on the first day. Contesting for a second consecutive term in the PMC, Landge said she plans to hold meetings with residents and housing societies from Friday. “Sustained engagement would help highlight the development work undertaken during my previous tenure, and I could also address pending civic issues,” she said.Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party workers said the party would roll out an aggressive campaign from the coming weekend, including the distribution of handouts and direct engagement with voters in areas where AAP candidates are contesting.With padyatras, door-to-door visits and ward-level meetings setting the tone, candidates across Pune are relying on personal connect and sustained visibility as the city enters the intense phase of campaigning.
