Pune: By winning more seats than the NCP, the BJP dominated in many merged areas that voted in the civic poll for the first time after their merger into Pune Municipal Corporation limits. As many as 10 wards were spread across the merged areas, from where 40 corporators were elected to PMC’s general body. The BJP won more seats in areas like Lohegaon, Manjari, Bavdhan, Wagholi-Kharadi, and Dhayari-Narhe.
Sources from the city’s political circle said that the city’s peripheral areas for many years were an NCP stronghold with the electorate here voting for the party in successive Lok Sabha and assembly elections. However, the situation changed in the last few years, and the BJP was able to establish its base in many pockets, posing a challenge to the NCP. The BJP’s efforts paid off when it clinched victories in more seats.Among the key merged areas, the BJP recorded a clean sweep in the pockets of Kharadi-Lohegaon and Lohegaon-Vimannagar by winning all the eight seats. It bagged three out of 4 seats in Kalas-Dhanori-Lohegaon ward. Similarly, three seats were also won in Manjari-Keshavnagar-Sadesatra Nali ward, which covers a significant portion of merged areas along Solapur Road. A clean sweep was also recorded in Wadgaon Budruk-Dhayari ward and Warje-Populanagar ward, which covers some merged pockets located beyond Warje. The battle remained equal in areas like Mohammadwadi-Undri, Sus-Baner-Pashan, and Shivane-Khadakwasla-Dhayari, where the BJP and the NCP scored two seats each.In the ward delimitation process, some merged areas were attached to old city pockets. In such areas too, the BJP recorded wins. A leader from BJP’s city unit said that the party’s aggressive strategy for the merged areas led to victory in many pockets. “The poll result is a clear indication that residents from merged areas voted for the BJP. Though in some wards the BJP and the NCP won similar numbers of seats, the BJP did not win fewer seats than the NCP in any of the wards. Our party had an all-out plan for the merged areas. The BJP-led state govt took many decisions for the merged areas and people expressed faith in the party’s leadership,” a functionary said.
