Pune: After nearly four years under administrative rule, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Friday picked its mayor and deputy mayor at the first general body meeting of the newly constituted 128-member house. BJP’s Ravi Landge (41), a former standing committee chairperson, was elected the 27th mayor unopposed since there were no other nominations filed. Similarly, BJP corporator Sharmila Babar was declared deputy mayor after her lone rival, Vaishali Kalbhor from NCP, withdrew her nomination.The mayor’s post was reserved for the open category. BJP’s clear majority — having won 84 seats in the Jan 15 election — left NCP, which bagged 37 seats, with limited scope to challenge the ruling party.Speaking to reporters, Landge said, “I believe that by entrusting me with the post of mayor, BJP has honoured the struggle of my uncle, the late Ankushrao Landge.” Ensuring the city’s planned, balanced and citizen-centric growth will be the primary objective, he said. “Pimpri Chinchwad is among the country’s leading cities in terms of industry, education and residential development. Priority will be given to strengthening basic civic amenities such as water supply, drainage, roads, transport, healthcare, sanitation and education,” he added. A two-term corporator, Landge was elected unopposed from ward 6 in the 2017 and 2026 polls.Deepak Taware, the officer appointed by the divisional commissioner to conduct the election process, formally declared the results at the meeting. NCP’s Bhausaheb Bhoir, a six-time corporator, was elected leader of the opposition, while BJP appointed Prashant Shitole as its group leader. The civic body faces a host of challenges, including water scarcity, as the city currently receives water on alternate days. It will also have to address objections to the draft development plan, with over 50,000 representations received before the proposal was sent to the state govt for final approval. Encroachments on footpaths and sluggish development in rapidly expanding areas such as Ravet, Kiwale, Punawale, Chikhali and Moshi are among the other key issues confronting the administration.Pimpri Chinchwad was considered a stronghold of late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, under whose leadership the undivided NCP ruled the corporation until 2017, when BJP wrested power. He is widely credited for the city’s development. On Friday, the newly elected corporators paid tributes to Ajit Pawar and observed a moment of silence in his memory before the house was adjourned till Feb 20.The tenure of the previous general body ended in March 2022, with BJP’s Usha alias Mai Dhore serving as mayor. Since then, the corporation had been under the charge of the municipal commissioner, who acted as the administrator. PCMC was established in 1986 and Dnyaneshwar Landge was its first mayor. The Pune Municipal Corporation has convened its first general body meeting at 11am on Feb 9 to hold election for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. BJP has nominated Manjusha Nagpure for mayor’s and Parashuram Wadekar (RPI-A) for deputy mayor’s positions. Congress and NCP too have given their candidates for both posts.
