Pune Set To Elect Woman Mayor On February 6
Pune Set To Elect Woman Mayor On February 6
Pune, January 24, 2026: Pune is poised to elect its first Mayor in nearly four years on February 6, officially ending the period of administrative rule imposed on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The position has been reserved for a woman from the Open category, setting the stage for an intense internal contest within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds a dominant majority in the civic body.
Pune Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Naval Kishore Ram confirmed that the first general body meeting of the newly elected corporators will be held on February 6 to elect both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Detailed procedures and schedules for the election will be announced shortly. The PMC administration had earlier approached the Pune Divisional Commissioner to appoint a presiding officer for the inaugural meeting following the civic poll results.
In the recently concluded PMC elections, the BJP secured 119 of the 165 seats, emerging as the single largest party. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 27 seats, Congress secured 15, NCP (SP) won three, and Shiv Sena (UBT) won just one seat. With the BJP commanding a comfortable majority, its candidates are expected to occupy both top posts.
A significant number of women corporators have entered the PMC this term, adding to the competitive landscape. Out of 89 elected women corporators, 41 from the BJP fall in the Open category and qualify for the Mayor’s post. Several experienced names are being discussed within BJP circles, including four-term corporator Varsha Tapkir, and three-term corporators Manasi Deshpande and Manjusha Nagpure. Others reportedly in contention include Ranjana Tilekar, Vasanti Jadhav, and Smita Vaste.
Additionally, six women won from general seats against male contenders, making them potential surprise candidates. Fresh faces like Swarada Bapat and Nivedita Ekbote are also being closely watched, adding an element of unpredictability ahead of the historic election.
