A few bigwigs suffered unexpected loss while there were some surprise victories, especially of first-timers, in the PCMC election. Former mayor Yogesh Behl registered his record seventh victory in the history of the PCMC.
Former Pimpri-Chinchwad mayor Mai Dhore was one of the big losers. Dhore, who had won from Sangvi for five consecutive times, lost to Ujwala Dhore of NCP. Her close associates said the defeat could be due to anti-incumbency factor.
Seema Sawale, former PCMC standing committee chairperson, lost by a close margin of only 256 votes in Indrayani Nagar-Balajinagar area. She was defeated by Dr Suhas Kamble, a prominent orthopaedic surgeon who runs the Sai Hospital in Moshi. Sawale was with BJP but shifted allegiance to NCP during campaigning. NCP leader Sarang Kamtekar said they were being undone by money power of the BJP. Kamtekar said they have objected to some non-functioning machines. ”The final result has not yet been declared due to our objections. But it is true that we trailed by 256 by the end of the last round,” he said. NCP alleged that the BJP had gone all-out to defeat Sawale.
BJP’s Prashant Shitole, another former standing committe chairman, had a real scare till the last round of voting. He finally won by a close margin of 290 votes. He defeated NCP candidate Atul Shitole. Prashant Shitole’s close associates said in the initial rounds he was leading. However, later till the last three rounds, Atul Shitole was ahead. ”It was only in the last three rounds, Prashant Shitole secured smaller lead of 90 and 100 and finally 290 votes and won,” said a close aide. Shitole had won thrice in the past and all on NCP ticket. He shifted to BJP during the electioneering.
In Pimple Nilakh, Tushar Kamthe, president of Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP (SP) unit, lost to Sandeep Kaspate of the BJP. He lost by nearly 9000 votes. Kamthe had played a major role in the two NCPs joining hands for PCMC election. He was present at every meeting, rallies and press conferences organised by the two parties. Sachin Chikhale, president of MNS Pimpri-Chninchwad unit lost to Uttam Kendale of BJP in Yamunagar Nagar seat.
However, BJP Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief Shatrughan Kate won from Pimple Saudagar by a margin over 8000 votes.
NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief Yogesh Behl won his seventh straight victory from Sant Tukaram Nagar. He won by over 5000 votes. He had started his political career in 1986 but lost the first election. He won in 1992 election and has never looked back since. He has served as mayor, as standing committee chairman, as opposition leader and as PCMC house leader in the past. ”My work speaks for itself, I have always been in touch with my voters and have remained highly accessible to them all the time. Probably that is why I have always won and with comfortable margin of victory,” he said.
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In Walhekarwadi, former senior corporators Bhausaheb Bhoir of NCP won after a see saw battle with Namdev Dhake of BJP. Dhake was the PCMC house leader.
Sheetal Kate, two time NCP corporator from Pimpile Nilakh, also lost the election. She lost to Anita Kate. However, her husband Nana Kate has been re-elected from Pimple Saudagar.
Rahul Kalate of BJP defeated Mayur Kalate of NCP a big margin of around 15,000 votes. Kalate was NCP (S-P) but joined BJP during the electioneering. There was strong opposition to his induction in BJP by a section of the saffron leaders.
Sneha Kalate of BJP also won by a margin of nearly 15,000 votes. She is a first time corporator from Pimple Nilakh.
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Shruti Wakadkar, first timer from Wakad of BJP, won by a margin of nearly 10,000 votes. Shruti was trailing in the initial rounds but later took lead and never looked back.
Rahul Bhosale of NCP won for Nehrunagar area for the third consecutive time. Bhosale defeated BJP’s Sadguru Kadam who was earlier in Congress. ”Before Rahul Bhosale, his father Hanumant Bhosale had won from Nehrunagar seat for five consecutive times. He had served as mayor as well as deputy mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad,” said advocate Sushil Mancharkar, a resident of Nehrunagar.
Former mayor Vaishali Ghodekar of NCP defeated a BJP candidate from Nehrunagar. Ghodekar won for the third time. She had lost once in the past.
In Masulkar Colony, first time candidate Sarika Masulkar won. She defeated her sister in law Sheetal Masulkar. In Kasarwadi prabhag, another first timer Manisha Lande, wife of former corporator and opposition leader Shyam Lande won by over 5000 votes. Varsha Jagtap of the NCP, defeated former corporator Sujata Palande in the same Kasarwadi-Sant Tukaram Nagar ward.
