Can Congress replicate the feat of assembly victory in Lok Sabha elections in Pune?

Thirteen months after causing a surprising upset for the BJP in the Kasba Peth assembly seat, the Congress party is once again pumped up about its chances in the Pune Lok Sabha seat. To spearhead its campaign, they've enlisted Ravindra Dhangekar, the individual responsible for breaking the saffron party's 28-year hold on Kasba Peth, reported TOI.

Meanwhile, the BJP has selected Muralidhar Mohol to defend the Pune Lok Sabha constituency, previously won by Girish Bapat in 2019. Following Bapat's passing in March last year, Pune has been without an MP. By fielding Mohol, a former mayor, the BJP aims to address key issues such as inadequate public transport, traffic congestion, water scarcity, and pollution, which resonate with the electorate.

Mohol, a prominent figure from the BJP stronghold of Kothrud, emerged victorious in the party's ticket selection process, overcoming strong competition from figures like former MLA Jagdish Mulik and former Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade.


The pivotal question now is whether the outcome of the Kasba Peth by-election will influence the BJP's performance in Pune's parliamentary election. Dheeraj Ghate, BJP's city unit president, asserts that it will not, emphasizing that the issues at stake in general elections differ from those in by-polls. Ghate highlights the central government's track record of allocating funds for crucial infrastructure projects in Pune over the past five years.

Mohol shares Ghate's confidence, expressing belief in BJP's ability to secure a third consecutive victory in Pune. He attributes this to the party's tangible contributions to the city's development.

Contrarily, a Congress member suggests that BJP would have lost the Pune Lok Sabha bypoll following Bapat's demise if it had been conducted promptly. According to them, BJP's reluctance to hold the bypoll was due to its shock over the Kasba Peth defeat.

Dhangekar contends that Pune residents are disillusioned with BJP's unfulfilled promises, citing delays in key projects and water supply issues during the party's tenure in the Pune Municipal Corporation from 2017 to 2022.

Despite Pune's recent leanings towards the BJP, historically, Congress has produced the most MPs from this constituency. While BJP's Mohol appears to have an advantage on paper, with four out of six assembly segments under BJP's control, Congress and NCP each hold one segment. The unexpected victory of Dhangekar in Kasba Peth's bypoll underscores the unpredictability of electoral outcomes.

Though BJP and Congress are the primary contenders in Pune, the inclusion of former corporator Vasant More on a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi ticket adds a third dimension to the race. More's candidacy could impact the electoral landscape, given VBA's significant vote share in the 2019 elections.

Several prominent political figures have campaigned in Pune, seeking to sway the roughly 20 lakh voters who will determine Pune's next MP on May 13.

(With inputs from ToI)