PCMC UPDATE । Ajit Gavhane faces backlash over self-inflicted Ward issues ahead of elections

Using the problems of his own ward as ‘election capital’ despite being a corporator for 20 years

Pimpri : With the upcoming assembly elections drawing near, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Gavhane finds himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The once-prominent leader, who has been a corporator for over 20 years in the Bhosari ward, is now facing criticism from residents over unresolved civic issues, particularly the Bhosari-Dighi road bottleneck.

The road, which is approximately 18 meters wide up to Gangotri Park society, narrows down to just 5 meters beyond this point, creating a severe traffic bottleneck. According to local citizens, the road’s direction was altered by Gavhane years ago to accommodate nearby housing projects, which led to the current situation. Despite the growing population in the area, the road width was reduced to accommodate real estate developments from 2005 to 2010. Today, the narrowed road causes significant traffic congestion, as it serves as the closest route from Bhosari to Dighi.

The videos highlighting drainage blockages and potholes on this road have gone viral on social media in recent months. Locals allege that political motives have blocked efforts to fix the drainage line, as nearby society owners have refused to provide space for necessary repairs. The heavy traffic on this road makes it difficult to close for repairs, worsening the situation.

Despite being in power for two decades, Gavhane has not resolved the issue. His aunt, Mohini Lande, represented the same ward and even served as mayor for two and a half years. Vilas Lande, Gavhane’s political mentor and a former MLA for Bhosari, also failed to address the problem during his tenure. The issue has since become mired in technical complications.

During the two and a half years of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rule, Gavhane held significant influence as the city president of the NCP and worked closely with the then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Yet, the bottleneck issue in his ward remained unsolved. Now, as elections approach, Gavhane appears to be using these long-standing issues as leverage for his campaign, staging protests and making public statements. This has raised questions about whether he is protesting against the very problems he helped create.

Gavhane’s Campaign Strategy Under Scrutiny

Political observers are questioning Gavhane’s campaign approach, which has seemingly focused more on publicizing his ward’s issues on social media rather than offering solutions. Supporters of Gavhane have been circulating viral content highlighting civic problems in the ward, aiming to create a negative narrative around current MLA Mahesh Lande. However, critics argue that Gavhane is merely exposing his own failures as a leader during his two decades in office.

Local residents have voiced their frustrations, demanding action rather than theatrics. Educated citizens from nearby societies have expressed disappointment over the political use of their problems, with messages circulating in society groups asking residents to take days off from work to participate in protests organized by Gavhane’s team.

Former City Improvement Committee Chairman Sagar Gawali has criticized the situation, stating, “The very leaders who sold flats in this area after plotting the land are the ones responsible for these problems. They ignored crucial infrastructure considerations like drainage and stormwater lines while developing the area. Now, the failure of their time in power is being blamed on others.”

As the election campaign heats up, Gavhane’s past actions are under increasing scrutiny, with political analysts noting that his efforts to capitalize on the problems in his ward may have backfired, leading to what some are calling a ‘self-goal’ on his home ground.