Pune Civic Polls: Former Mayors and Deputy Mayor Re-Emerge with Increased Wealth

The upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections are set to see a resurgence of familiar faces, with three former mayors and one ex-deputy mayor seeking re-election. These seasoned politicians have declared significant changes in their wealth, reflecting the dynamic landscape of civic politics in Pune.

Having held coveted posts in the PMC in the past, the three former mayors contesting the election are Vaishali Bankar, Dattatray Dhankawade, and Prashant Jagtap. While all three were previously associated with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), this time around, Bankar and Dhankawade are contesting as NCP candidates, whereas Jagtap is a Congress candidate.

Dhankawade, who is contesting from the Balajinagar-Ambegaon-Katraj ward, has declared assets of ₹96.85 crore, a substantial increase from ₹27.14 crore in the 2017 civic election. He served as mayor for about one and a half years between 2014 and 2016. Primarily involved in real estate, his family also owns 1,190 grams of gold jewelry.

Jagtap, who recently left the NCP(SP) to join the Congress, was mayor for a year between 2016 and 2017. His current declared wealth is ₹5.70 crore, an increase from ₹5.44 crore when he last contested the Assembly elections from Hadapsar constituency in September 2024.

On the other hand, Bankar is contesting the elections from the Hadapsar-Satavwadi ward. She served as mayor of Pune for about one and a half years between 2012 and 2013. Her declared assets have decreased from ₹2.57 crore in 2017 to ₹2.14 crore now.

The sole former deputy mayor contesting the PMC election is veteran leader Ulhas Bagul, who is in the fray from the Sahakarnagar-Padmavati ward. The 68-year-old was with the Congress but recently shifted to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Bagul’s wealth has increased to ₹9.79 crore from ₹9.13 crore in September 2024, when he contested the Assembly election from Parvati constituency as an Independent. Bagul and his family own 3.536 kg of gold jewelry and 9.5 kg of silver items.

Elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation are scheduled to be held on January 15. The increase in the wealth of these former mayors and the deputy mayor raises questions about the economic landscape and the potential impact of these changes on their political careers.

The Pune Municipal Corporation, established to manage the civic and infrastructure needs of the city, plays a crucial role in the development and governance of Pune. The re-emergence of these former leaders with increased assets underscores the complex interplay of politics and economics in local governance. As Pune continues to grow and develop, the role of these experienced politicians in shaping the city's future remains a point of keen interest for the public and stakeholders alike.