The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) election on January 15 is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle for prestige, with seven former mayors in the fray.
Contesting this time are the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) Yogesh Behl and Vaishali Ghodekar, and the BJP’s Aparna Doke, Mai Dhore, Shakuntala Darade, Rahul Jadhav, and Nitin Kalje. In contrast, only three former mayors had contested the last election held in 2017.
While Behl is contesting against BJP’s Satish Nagargoje in Prabhag No. 30, Kasarwadi-Sant Tukaram Nagar, Ghodekar is contesting from Prabhag No. 9, Nehrunagar-Kharalwadi, against BJP’s Meenaj Inamdar.
“Yes, I am contesting again from the Kasarwadi-Sant Tukaram Nagar area. I have won all past elections in the same area. Every election is a challenge. I do not take any election lightly,” Behl told The Indian Express. The president of the NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, Behl is known for his proximity to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Among the BJP contenders, Doke is fighting from Prabhag No. 19, Chinchwad-Keshavnagar, and facing a challenge from NCP’s Puja Agnan. Meanwhile, Dhore is trying her luck from Prabhag No. 32, Sangvi-Shitolenagar, where she is contesting against Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Varsha Pongde, NCP’s Ujwala Dhore, and BJP rebel candidate Sharda Sonawane.
While Darade is in the fray from Prabhag No. 39, Pimple Gurav-Jawalkarnagar, where she is facing a challenge from NCP’s Sunita Kolap, Jadhav is contesting from Prabhag No. 2, Moshi-Borhadewadi, against NCP’s Vishal Aher.
Kalje is in the fray from Prabhag No. 3, Charholi-Dudalgaon, where he will face off against Prakash Alhat of the NCP.
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Apart from these candidates, the sons of several former mayors are also contesting the PCMC polls. While Nitin Landge, son of Pimpri-Chinchwad’s first mayor Dynaneshwar Landge, is in the fray from Bhosari, Atul Shitole, son of the late former mayor Nana Shitole, is contesting from Sangvi. Rahul Bhosale, son of former mayor Hanumant Bhosale, is once again contesting from Nehrunagar, and Kushagra Kadam, the son of former mayor Mangala Kadam, is contesting from Sambhaji Nagar.
“As of now, it looks like almost all the former mayors are better placed. But…anything can happen. We do not know the undercurrent of particular areas, how voters will react, etc. It will not be a cakewalk…,” Avinash Chilekar, political analyst, said.
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Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for “campaign-style” reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More’s recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
“Ajit Pawar’s NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies” (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
“BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP” (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
“Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse” (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
“NCP(SP)’s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP” (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
“PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code” (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
“93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs” (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
“As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit” (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
“Maharashtra govt move to ‘downgrade’ Aadhaar cards” (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local “gondaism” (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 … Read More
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