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Maharashtra Corporation BMC, PMC, TMC, NMC, NNMC, KDMC Election 2026: MaharashtraChief Minister Devendra Fadnavishas strongly criticised political parties for giving tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds in Pune’s municipal elections. He questioned how parties can promise crime-free governance while still nominating such candidates. Talking about repeated promises to tackle gangs like the “Koyta gang,” Fadnavis said supporting or nominating criminals was “absolutely wrong” and warned that even if these candidates win, they would end up in jail, not in the municipal corporation, according to a report by ANI.
“ une has a population of approximately six lakhs. Why was it necessary to give tickets to people with criminal backgrounds as candidates? Everyone says and believes that crime should be eradicated,” ANI reported quoting Fadnavis.
Adding to it Fadnavis said, “I have heard many speeches where it was said that the ‘Koyta gang’ would be eliminated from Pune and crime would be rooted out. But the same people who made these statements are now giving tickets to criminals and even speaking in their support. This is absolutely wrong”.
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“I think the people of Pune will not accept this at all. In this election, I had decided not to make any personal comments, but when such issues come up, the Home Minister in me asks, ‘What is going on?’ On one hand, you say that crime should be eliminated; on the other hand, you give tickets to people with criminal backgrounds… I want to make one thing absolutely clear: even if a criminal wins the election, his place will not be in the municipal corporation… his place will be in jail,” the Maharashtra CM added.
Sanjay Raut criticises BJP and NCP
This comes after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the ruling BJP and NCP would have even given tickets to Dawood Ibrahim’s relatives if they had met him.
Speaking at a public rally, he said the Mahayuti alliance “can’t win elections without hooliganism” and added that Pune, once known for its beauty, is now called a “city of goons.”
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Municipal polls schedule
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
Voting will take place on January 15, with results declared on January 16.
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12:14 (IST) 12 Jan 2026
Maharashtra BMC Elections 2026 Live: Mahayuti will win all key civic bodies, says Chandrakant Patil
State minister Chandrakant Patil has said he is confident that the BJP-led Mahayuti will keep control of all five municipal corporations in western Maharashtra in the upcoming civic elections.
Speaking to PTI on Sunday, the senior BJP leader also claimed that the alliance — which includes the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP — will win the mayor’s post in all 29 municipal corporations across the state. The civic polls are scheduled for January 15.
10:50 (IST) 12 Jan 2026
Maharashtra BMC Elections 2026 Live: Mira Bhayander will turn ‘saffron’ in polls, says Eknath Shinde
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said that after Mumbai and Thane, Mira Bhayander is now ready to turn “saffron” in the upcoming municipal elections.
In 2017, the then undivided Shiv Sena had won the Brihanmumbai and Thane municipal corporation polls.
Speaking at a public meeting after a roadshow on Sunday, Shinde said that late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray always had a special place in his heart for Mira Bhayander. He described the city as a “mini India,” adding that Shiv Sena’s strength comes from bringing together all communities, including North Indians, Gujaratis, and South Indians.
09:56 (IST) 12 Jan 2026
Maharashtra BMC Elections 2026 Live: BJP’s Aishwarya Pathare releases women-centric manifesto
With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections now in their final stage, BJP leader Aishwarya Surendra Pathare has launched a special women-focused manifesto for the ward she is contesting.
Pathare, the BJP candidate from Ward No. 3, said the manifesto addresses the key needs of women in her area, according to ANI.
“Manifesto is built on four key pillars: women’s health, women’s safety, women’s skill development and women’s empowerment, and has been designed keeping in mind the specific needs of women in the Lohegaon and Wagholi areas of East Pune,” she told reporters.
She added that the goal is to ensure women become active partners in the area’s development.
09:09 (IST) 12 Jan 2026
Maharashtra BMC Elections 2026 Live: ‘Maharashtra has become number one in country’: Piyush Goyal
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that India is currently the fastest-growing economy in the world. He explained that the government is creating new facilities every day to make business easier, support industries, and boost exports.
Speaking at a BMC election rally, Goyal added that Maharashtra has now become the top-performing state in the country.
“Today, we have become the world’s fourth-largest economy. Today, we are the fastest-growing economy in the world… New facilities are being created every day to simplify business, encourage industry, increase India’s exports, and forge new free trade agreements with developed countries. In other words, a wave of development is sweeping across the entire country. In this wave of progress, Maharashtra has also become number one in the country…” Goyal said. |
