With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections just days away, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule addressed the media on Monday, emphasizing that there has never been any discord within her family and outlining her party’s approach to the upcoming polls. Sule’s remarks come in the wake of the NCP (SP) joining hands with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the municipal elections in Pune.

“I have written to the Chief Minister many times on rising crimes in Pune, so I want to ask him what he has done about it? There were never issues between the family. We are all here to serve the public,” Sule said, underscoring both the family unity within the NCP and the party’s focus on civic governance.

Sule highlighted that her faction has unveiled a progressive manifesto aimed at addressing key issues in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas. “We have launched a progressive manifesto. I am confident that people from Pune and PCMC will stand with us,” she said, expressing optimism about voter support in the upcoming elections.

Rising Crime in Pune

In her comments, Sule strongly questioned the Mahayuti government—the ruling alliance in Maharashtra—over the rising crime rate in Pune. She noted that she has repeatedly written to the Chief Minister seeking action but felt the government had not responded adequately. By raising this issue publicly, Sule sought to bring the spotlight onto law and order ahead of the municipal polls, a significant concern for urban voters.

Allegations of Hooliganism by Opposition

Sule’s remarks follow recent comments by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who accused both the ruling BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction of fostering criminal elements within municipal politics. Speaking at a public rally, Raut described Pune as having lost its reputation as a city of culture and civility, now being dubbed a “city of goons.”

Raut went further, claiming that political parties rewarded the relatives of gangsters with election tickets, saying, “Whether it is the BJP or Ajit Pawar’s party, there is hardly any gang whose relatives have not been given election tickets by these parties. I once said that if these people had met Dawood Ibrahim, they would have given tickets to his brother or relatives, including Chhota Shakeel and Chhota Rajan. These people cannot win elections without hooliganism.”

Such allegations have heightened the political tension in Pune ahead of the elections, placing law and order firmly on the campaign agenda.

AIMIM’s Call for Muslim Political Agency

Adding another layer to the municipal poll discourse, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed the Muslim community in Jalna, urging voters to develop their own political agency. He encouraged supporting parties that foster organic Muslim leadership, rather than those that have historically opposed minority leaders.

Criticizing both the Mahayuti and MVA alliances, Owaisi claimed that parties like Congress, both factions of NCP, and Shiv Sena have consistently opposed the rise of leaders from the Muslim community. He said, “It is good, Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena (UBT) or BJP, all are fighting the polls together. But when the issue of Ward came up, then everyone said, no they can’t win. They don’t want a leader to emerge from the Muslim community. None of these parties likes it if a leader from the minority community rises.”

Owaisi’s remarks seek to mobilize minority voters and highlight representation issues ahead of the civic elections.

Maharashtra Municipal Elections 2026

The State Election Commission of Maharashtra has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling is scheduled for January 15, with counting and results expected on January 16.

The PMC elections are being closely watched as a litmus test for urban governance and political alliances in Maharashtra. The contest will feature competing narratives on law and order, civic amenities, and governance efficiency, with parties like the NCP emphasizing public service and progressive agendas, while opposition voices focus on crime and alleged mismanagement.

Key Takeaways

• Supriya Sule reaffirmed family unity within the NCP despite multiple factions, stressing that internal differences do not exist and that the focus remains on public service.
• Sule criticized the state government’s handling of crime in Pune, calling for accountability and tangible action on law and order issues.
• Opposition leaders, including Sanjay Raut, have accused the ruling alliance of encouraging hooliganism and rewarding criminal networks with political leverage.
• AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi highlighted the need for independent Muslim political representation and criticized mainstream parties for obstructing minority leadership.
• Municipal elections in Maharashtra, including PMC and PCMC, are set for January 15, with results on January 16, positioning urban safety and governance as central electoral issues.

Sule’s statements and the wider political discourse underline how law and order, governance, and representation are emerging as defining issues for voters in Pune and surrounding municipal areas. The outcome of these elections is expected to set the tone for urban politics in Maharashtra, particularly with respect to civic administration and public safety concerns.