Pune Civic Polls: Jayashree Marne, Bapu Nayar And Andekar Family Candidatures Trigger Political Controversy
Pune Civic Polls: Jayashree Marne, Bapu Nayar And Andekar Family Candidatures Trigger Political Controversy
Pune, December 31, 2025: Allegations of criminal influence in local politics have resurfaced ahead of the Pune civic elections, with several candidates linked to alleged gang figures entering the electoral fray, triggering sharp reactions from opposition parties.
The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has issued an AB form to Jayashree Marne, wife of alleged gangster Gajanan alias Gajya Marne, confirming her candidature from Ward No. 10 (Bavdhan). Although the party has not officially released its final candidate list, the issuance of the AB form effectively seals her nomination. Gajanan Marne faces multiple criminal cases, including those registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
In another development, the NCP has also issued an AB form to Bapu Nayar from Ward No. 39. Nayar has previously faced several criminal cases, including charges related to attempt to murder and land grabbing. He was, however, recently acquitted in a MCOCA case.
Party sources said that Jayashree Marne, Harshwardhan Mankar (son of Deepak Mankar), and Rupali Thombre Patil received AB forms and submitted their nomination papers on the final day of filing, despite the absence of an officially announced candidate list.
Separately, alleged gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, along with his daughter-in-law Sonali Vanraj Andekar and sister-in-law Laxmi Udaykant Andekar, filed nomination papers from Ward No. 23. While Bandu Andekar has entered the race as an independent candidate, Sonali and Laxmi are believed to be contesting with the support of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), though initial clarity on their ticket status was lacking.
NCP city unit president Subhash Jagtap later stated that the party has an alliance with the Republican Party of India (RPI) led by Sachin Kharat, under which Sonali and Laxmi Andekar have been nominated. He added that both candidates will contest the election on the NCP’s election symbol, the ‘Clock’.
Defending the decision, Jagtap said the Andekar family has a long association with city politics. He pointed out that Vatsala Andekar had served as Pune mayor, while Udaykant Andekar, Bandu Andekar’s late brother, was a corporator. He also noted that Vanraj Andekar, Bandu Andekar’s son, had previously been elected as an NCP corporator. Jagtap further stated that Jayashree Marne has contested civic elections in the past.
Bandu Andekar, currently lodged in Dhule jail, and the two women candidates, earlier housed in Kalamba jail in Kolhapur, were brought to Pune under police escort after receiving court permission to complete election formalities. Their earlier attempt to file nominations had failed due to documentation-related issues.
Meanwhile, the long-standing rivalry between the Andekar and Komkar gangs has also found expression in the political arena. Kalyani Komkar, wife of alleged gang leader Ganesh Komkar, has filed her nomination as an independent candidate after reportedly seeking a ticket from the Shiv Sena.
Opposition parties have accused the ruling alliance of hypocrisy, citing repeated public statements by Ajit Pawar advocating the exclusion of criminal elements from politics. Leaders from the NCP faction, however, have not issued any formal response to the criticism so far.
Earlier, a special court in Pune had ruled that there is no legal restriction on members of the Andekar family contesting elections and directed jail authorities to facilitate their participation in the nomination process, including providing police escort if necessary.
