Pune Mayor Selection: Four Senior Women BJP Leaders Emerge as Top Contenders
Pune Mayor Selection: Four Senior Women BJP Leaders Emerge as Top Contenders
Pune, January 23, 2026: Out of the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, the mayoral post in 15 corporations has been reserved for women this year. Notably, major cities such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Nashik will also have women mayors. As a result, Pune Municipal Corporation will witness women’s leadership, with the mayor’s post reserved for the Open Women category. This means the next Mayor of Pune will be from the open women category.
Following the 2026 Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, four senior women leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are emerging as strong contenders for the mayor’s post.
Who are the leading contenders for Pune Mayor?
- Ranjana Tilekar
- Manjusha Nagpure
- Mansi Deshpande
- Rohini Chimte
All four leaders won their respective wards in the 2026 PMC elections and are considered influential figures in Pune’s political landscape. With the mayoral post reserved for the open women category, their names are currently at the forefront of the race.
Profiles of the contenders:
1. Ranjana Tilekar
BJP leader Ranjana Tilekar is the mother of MLC Yogesh Tilekar. In the 2026 elections, she secured a decisive victory from Ward No. 40 by defeating Rupesh More, son of former corporator Vasant More. She is among Pune’s most experienced corporators and is serving her sixth term.
2. Manjusha Nagpure
Manjusha Nagpure was elected unopposed in the 2026 elections, as no candidate filed a nomination against her. Before entering politics, she worked in a senior position in the IT sector, leaving behind a high-paying job. She is a popular leader from the Sinhagad Road area and is known as a loyal and dedicated BJP worker.
3. Mansi Deshpande
Mansi Deshpande won from Ward No. 20 (Bibwewadi–Shankar Maharaj Math) and achieved a hat-trick of victories in this election. She is a close relative of Minister of State Madhuri Misal. Known for her strong public connect in Bibwewadi, she has also served as Chairperson of the ward committee.
4. Rohini Chimte
Rohini Chimte won from Ward No. 9 and is an active BJP women’s leader. She is part of the party’s core team in the Kothrud constituency.
In the 2026 PMC elections, the BJP secured a clear majority by winning 120 out of 165 seats in Pune. Now, all eyes are on which of these experienced women leaders will be chosen as the next Mayor of Pune.
