PUNE

Often referred to as the "Oxford of the East," Pune is a historically significant district located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Today, it serves as a major hub for both the IT industry and higher education. Pune played a prominent role during India’s freedom struggle, serving as a base for influential leaders such as Lokmanya Tilak, Mahadev Govind Ranade, and Mahatma Phule, who used the city to advance their social and political ideas.

Historically, the region was part of the Mawal area during British rule. Following the implementation of the Bombay Reorganisation Act in 1960, the former Bombay State was divided into Maharashtra and Gujarat, and Pune became part of the newly formed state of Maharashtra.

Pune district has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years and reflects the influence of various individuals, cultures, and dynasties. It has held strategic importance due to its location, serving as a key military and trade center through different eras. The city of Pune was also the seat of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire, who played a crucial role in shaping the region's political legacy.

The Pune district consists of four Lok Sabha constituencies: Pune, Baramati, Maval, and Shirur.

Within the Vidhan Parishad, the Pune District is represented by Pune Local Bodies Authorities Constituency, the Pune Teachers’ Constituency, and the Pune Graduates Constituency. The Graduates and Teachers’ Constituencies are based on the administrative divisions of Maharashtra.

The given maps provide an overview of the boundaries of the Pune district and the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha Constituencies that fall within and around it.

Based on records from the delimitation reports by the Election Commission, the given chart provides an overview of the changes that have occurred in the composition of the Lok Sabha constituencies in Pune and the reshuffling of the Vidhan Sabha constituencies with every delimitation that has been done.

The following are the current Members of Parliament (MP) representing Pune district in the Lok Sabha, as of 2024:

The following are the current Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) representing constituencies in Pune district, as of 2024:

Medha Kulkarni, Sunetra Pawar, Sharadchandra Pawar, and Rajni Patil are from Pune district and are currently representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha.

The Guardian Minister for Pune is Ajit Pawar (NCP).

The following table lists the current Members of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad representing Pune district through various constituencies, as of 2024:

The following are the key administrative heads of Pune district, as of 2024:

There are 21 Urban Local Bodies in the Pune District: 2 Mahanagar Palika, 14 Nagar Parishad, and 2 Nagar Panchayat. There are 1407 Gram Panchayats and 13 Panchayat Samitis, and 3 Cantonment Boards.

The Pune Zilla Parishad was established on 1 May 1962. Mr. Shankar Ursal served as its first President. The Zilla Parishad comprises 82 elected members and plays a key role in the rural governance and development of the district.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), a key urban local body governing the city of Pune, was established on 15 February 1950. As of 2023, the Corporation governs 162 wards, each representing a distinct geographical and demographic segment of the city.

A landmark moment in the Corporation’s history came in 1952, when Mr. Baburao Sanas was elected as the first Mayor of Pune. Since then, the PMC has witnessed a dynamic political environment, with leadership alternating among major parties such as the INC, BJP, and NCP. The formation of the NCP under Sharad Pawar has had a lasting influence on the city’s political landscape.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was established on 11 October 1982 to manage the growing industrial and urban population in the northern part of Pune district. By 2023, the Corporation had expanded to cover 128 wards.

Mr. Dnyaneshwar Pandurang Landge became the first Mayor of PCMC in 1986, marking a new phase in local governance and development. Since its inception, the NCP has been the dominant political force in Corporation elections. However, parties such as the BJP, INC, and SHS have also played significant roles, reflecting a competitive and diverse political landscape.

Pune district has several municipal councils (Nagar Parishads) that serve as urban local governance bodies. These include Alandi Nagar Parishad, Bhor Nagar Parishad, Chakan Nagar Parishad, Baramati Nagar Parishad, Daund Nagar Parishad, Indapur Nagar Parishad, Jejuri Nagar Parishad, Lunnar Nagar Parishad, and Lonavala Nagar Parishad.

Pune district is home to three cantonment boards that function as civic administration bodies in military areas. These include the Dehu Road Cantonment Board, Khadki Cantonment Board, and Pune Cantonment Board.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, there were a total of 137 contestants from four seats. Out of these, 31 candidates had criminal cases against them, with 13 of the contestants having serious cases registered. The contestant with the highest number of criminal cases registered was the INC candidate from Pune. Out of the elected four MPs, the MPs of Pune and Maval both have three criminal cases against them.

In the 2019 Vidhan Sabha election, there were a total of 237 contestants from 21 Vidhan Sabha seats. Out of these, 77 contestants had criminal cases against them, with 19% of the contestants having serious cases registered. Contestants with the highest number of criminal cases registered were from the parties MNS and NCP.

The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was founded in Pune at Jedhe Mansion by Keshavrao Jedhe to advocate for a separate state of Maharashtra for Marathi-speaking people. This movement brought together leaders from various political parties under one banner, with Pune serving as the central hub where strategies and plans were devised. The socio-political ideologies of Sant Dynaneshwar and Mahatma Phule, rooted in the Pune region, laid the foundation for the demand for a Marathi language state.

On 6 February 1956, the Samiti was formally established at Jedhe Mansion, marking a significant alliance between Pune's Brahmin leaders and the Bahujan Samaj. Pune became a hotspot for political activity, with debates, rallies, and discussions held in prominent places like Kesariwada and Shaniwarwada. Leaders actively reached out to the masses, galvanizing public support for the movement. The atmosphere was so charged that Baburao Sanas, then Mayor of Pune, symbolically threw his Gandhi cap from the top of Vishrambaug Wada, the municipal headquarters, in protest against the Congress's stance.

Such was the influence of the Samiti's leadership that nearly every citizen in Pune became a supporter of the movement, joining the protests for a united Maharashtra.

In 1818, a significant battle took place in Bhima Koregaon, near Pune, involving the Peshwars (Marathas) and the Dalits. The Dalits, who belonged to a lower caste, sought equal participation in the kingdom's affairs, but the Peshwas discriminated against them. Exploiting this social conflict, the East India Company intervened, declaring war on the Peshwas. They assembled a Dalit army and emerged victorious. To honor the Dalits who fought for them, the East India Company erected the 'Vijay Stambh' or Victory Pillar.

Every year on 1 January, Dalits commemorate this historic victory over the Marathas by paying tribute to these heroes at the Vijay Stambh. However, in 2018, during the 200th-anniversary celebration, a violent altercation erupted between Dalits and members of other castes, resulting in at least one fatality and multiple injuries.

Rakesh Fulchand Dhakoliya, infamously known as “Mahakali,” was a feared gangster and one of Pune’s most notorious criminals. He earned the alias “Mahakali” because he invoked the name of the Goddess while placing his foot on a victim’s chest during extortion attempts. Operating primarily in the twin townships of Pimpri-Chinchwad and parts of Pune city, the Mahakali Gang was involved in armed robbery and extortion. His criminal career came to an end when he was killed in a police encounter.

Gaja Marne, also known as Gajanan, is the leader of the Marne gang and a known history-sheeter involved in serious crimes such as murder and extortion. He has a long-standing rivalry with the Mohol gang. Marne was convicted of murder and served three years in Pune’s Yerawada Jail, along with an additional year in Nagpur Jail. He briefly joined the unified NCP in a meeting attended by Ajit Pawar, but was expelled following public backlash. His wife, Jayshree Marne, who was a corporator from Kothrud in Pune, later joined the NCP in February 2022.

Sharad Mohol, also known as Bhau Mohol, began his criminal career alongside Sandeep Mohol. Both hailed from Pune’s Mulshi taluka in the Western Ghats and were drawn into crime at a young age. The Mohol gang later developed a notorious rivalry with the Marne gang. Western talukas like Mulshi, Bhor, and Velhe became breeding grounds for these gangs, often luring in misguided youth. Over time, gang violence shifted into Pune city, particularly Kothrud, resulting in a series of murders and retaliations during the 2000s.

Sharad Mohol gained notoriety for the jailhouse murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui. Despite several prison stints, he rebranded himself as a social worker and grew popular in right-wing Hindutva circles, even receiving the “Hindu Shaurya Award” for his association with their cause. His wife, Swati Mohol, joined the BJP in the presence of Kothrud MLA and Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil - a move that attracted widespread criticism. Sharad supported her political entry and further cultivated his public image by funding education for underprivileged children and contributing to Ganpati mandals and other social initiatives. He was ultimately killed by a member of his own gang in January 2024.

The gang members operating primarily in the Hadapsar suburb of Pune are known for vandalizing properties and instilling fear in their victims by wielding sickles (locally known as koytas in Marathi). These agricultural tools are commonly available, making it difficult for the police to track and apprehend the criminals. Most gang members are young, often juveniles, which allows them to secure bail easily and become repeat offenders. However, the Pune Police have taken strict measures to crack down on these gangs, significantly controlling the situation.