Maharashtra civic polls: Party-hopping a risky bet for some as turncoats see mixed fortunes

PUNE: Many of those who switched sides ahead of the civic polls managed to taste success, but several faced defeat, with the trend cutting across party lines.

In Pimpri Chinchwad, 30 former corporators and candidates who finished second in the previous corporation poll shifted loyalties after they were denied tickets by their respective parties.




The results, however, were mixed — only 16 of them won. Most contested the election on their own, while a few fielded family members from seats reserved for women.

In Pune, Prashant Jagtap, who joined Congress after NCP forged an alliance with NCP (SP), secured a victory from ward 18D of the Pune Municipal Corporation. In contrast, Aba Bagul, a five-time corporator and senior Congress member, who switched to Shiv Sena just days before the poll, suffered a defeat.

"People often say ideology has no value in politics, but my victory proved otherwise. Voters do value principles and ethos, and my win reflected that. Politicians should take note and avoid such mistakes in the future," Jagtap said.

Former PCMC standing committee chairperson and BJP member Seema Sawale, who joined NCP after being denied a ticket, lost by a margin of 256 votes. Similarly, Usha Waghere, a three-term corporator and wife of former mayor Sanjog Waghere, who quit NCP to join BJP days before the poll, was among those who tasted defeat.

Most political realignments in Pimpri Chinchwad were between NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena — parties that are allies in the state govt but went solo for the civic poll.

In Pune, among those who switched allegiance was Nandini Dhende, wife of former mayor Siddharth Dhende. She quit BJP to join NCP and won. Datta Bahirat, a former Congress member, emerged victorious on an NCP ticket.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's NCP inducted the highest number of turncoats in the final days before the polls. In an interview with TOI earlier, he said he deliberately delayed distributing A and B forms, anticipating that many disappointed aspirants would switch sides. "The civic elections were held after nearly nine years and many were preparing for them. I waited for such aspirants and gave them tickets based on their winnability," he said.

Giant killers

Several candidates sprang surprises in their maiden attempts and defeated seasoned politicians in the elections to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations.

In Pune, Saee Thopate (22), an ABVP worker, defeated Aba Bagul, a former Congress member and five-term corporator who joined Shiv Sena earlier this year.

Shiv Sena's Pimpri Chinchwad unit president Nilesh Taras and three party candidates won from ward 16, defeating Moreshwar Bhondve, a two-term corporator, and his wife, and two more candidates, who were contesting on NCP tickets.