Manjusha Nagpure elected Pune mayor unopposed, Parashuram Wadekar named deputy

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Manjusha Nagpure was elected unopposed as mayor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Monday, ending a four-year leadership vacuum, while RPI (A) leader Parshuram Wadekar became deputy mayor , after opposition parties withdrew their nominations.

“The people of Pune have given BJP a decisive mandate, and today’s unopposed election reflects their trust. We will work to deliver transparent, development-oriented governance,” Nagpure said after assuming office.

The mayoral election had been pending since 2022 due to prolonged legal disputes, leaving the civic body without an elected political head. The election was conducted by the district collector, who formally declared Nagpure elected. The mayor’s post was reserved for a woman from the general category , influencing the final choice.

NCP’s Shital Sawant and Congress leader Ashwini Landge withdrew from the mayoral contest, while NCP corporator Dattatray Bahirat and Congress’s Sahil Kedari pulled out of the deputy mayor race, paving the way for unopposed elections . “We decided not to contest in the larger interest of the city and smooth functioning of the civic body,” a senior opposition leader said.

Nagpure, a third-time corporator from the Sinhagad area, is closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. She holds postgraduate degrees in management and commerce and previously worked in the IT sector. “My priority will be improving civic services, road infrastructure, water supply and cleanliness across Pune,” she said.

Wadekar, who represents the Bopodi–Aundh area, contested the recent civic elections on a BJP ticket as an ally candidate and secured a decisive victory. “I will work in coordination with the mayor to ensure faster execution of development projects,” he said.

In the 165-member PMC, the BJP secured 119 seats , establishing a commanding majority. Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) together won 30 seats, while the Congress secured 15. Shiv Sena (UBT) managed just one seat, highlighting BJP’s sweeping mandate .

Union Minister and Pune Lok Sabha MP Murlidhar Mohol thanked voters for their support, saying, “The people of Pune have trusted BJP with a historic mandate. As a result, our corporators were elected unopposed, ensuring stable governance and faster development.” He added that the outcome marked a unanimous election and a new phase of political stability for the city.