Pune: An unusual and unsettling factor has shaped the rhythm of political campaigning in Manchar, Ambegaon and Junnar — the fear of leopards. Big cats freely roam the fields and occasionally wander into residential pockets in search of food in the dark. Even experienced candidates are now treating the setting sun as a hard deadline.Rajeshree Ganjale, contesting the Manchar nagar panchayat election on a Shiv Sena ticket, ends her campaigning at 6.30pm. It is not convenience or personal preference. It is because the moment daylight fades, the threat of leopard attacks begins to loom large — a concern shared across the three regions. Prime voter-connect time has become a tense race against dusk.Candidates across Ambegaon, Manchar and Junnar — repeatedly scarred by leopard sightings and attacks — said they are compelled to confine their outreach strictly to daytime. Many admit that even the most determined among them refuse to stay out once the sky darkens. Voters, too, firmly decline evening visits and are unwilling to step outdoors after sunset. Party workers who normally join in large groups also dwindle rapidly; teams of 40 to 50 shrink to barely five to 10 people by late evening.With just a day left before the Dec 2 polls, every available minute of daylight has become precious. Top party leaders had already shifted their rallies to the morning or afternoon, acknowledging the escalating fear that has gripped the electorate.Even senior leaders such as deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar had shifted to daytime rallies. “Star campaigners prefer evenings when people are relaxed,” Junnar’s Vishal Patil said. “Fear of leopards has changed the strategy.”The anxiety surrounding leopard attacks has peaked and dominates manifestos. Proposals range from sterilisation to relocation, reflecting the urgency felt by voters. Ambegaon resident Varsha Raut said, “Candidates can visit in the morning or send messages on social media. But our fight is daily and we tell them that the problem needs a real solution. Every day, farmers go to their fields fearfully.” Another voter, Mandakini Bankhale, said, “We’ve urged for population control of the big cats and traps at strategic points. Children’s safety is our biggest concern.”Manchar farmer Tukaram Khandge said, “It is no longer a ‘one-season’ problem. Even during festivals or weddings, people avoid the dark. We feel trapped inside our homes.”Frustration is growing as the number of sightings rises. Senior citizen Vitthal Shinde summed up the public sentiment: “There are at least 50 leopards in our area — as common as street dogs. Their numbers will go up as they multiply. Candidates with concrete solutions will get our votes.”
