With just three weeks to go before the Pune municipal elections, campaigning in the city has taken an unusual and eye-catching turn. Aspiring councillors are rolling out lavish incentives—ranging from luxury cars and foreign trips to land and gold jewellery—in a bid to attract voters as the race for civic seats heats up.
Luxury Giveaways Grab Attention
In Lohgaon–Dhanori ward, one candidate has announced a striking offer: 11 voters will receive 1,100 sq ft plots each through a lucky draw, with registrations already open. In nearby Viman Nagar, another candidate is promising couples a five-day luxury holiday to Thailand.
Across several wards, candidates are advertising lucky draws featuring SUVs, two-wheelers and gold jewellery, highlighting how high-value rewards are increasingly being used to draw voters’ attention.
Focus on Women and Young Voters
Women voters, especially homemakers, appear to be a major focus of these campaigns. Thousands of Paithani sarees—traditional silk sarees known for their rich colours and gold or silver weaving—have reportedly already been distributed. In addition, sewing machines and bicycles have been handed out in multiple localities.
To appeal to younger voters and sports enthusiasts, some candidates have organised cricket tournaments, offering prize money of up to ₹1 lakh, underscoring the intense competition on the ground.
Pawar Factions Begin Seat-Sharing Talks
Behind the scenes, political negotiations are also gaining momentum. Sources say the NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar have held their first meeting to discuss seat-sharing for the January 15 polls.
Sharad Pawar is reportedly seeking 40 to 45 seats, while Ajit Pawar is said to be unwilling to offer more than 30. Further talks, including discussions involving Supriya Sule, are expected soon.
Thackeray Cousins’ Reunion Changes Equations
Political dynamics have further shifted with the reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades. Their alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has unsettled the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The Congress has since decided to stay out of this alliance for the Pune election, adding another layer of complexity as the city prepares to vote.
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