Pune Municipal Election Code of Conduct: Local Polls Announced, But PMC Stays Outside the Election Restrictions

Pune:
Even as the State Election Commission (SEC) announced the long-awaited schedule for the local self-government elections across Maharashtra, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) remains unaffected by the Model Code of Conduct.

Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram clarified that since no official notification has been issued for PMC elections, the Code of Conduct will not apply within the city limits.

On Tuesday, the SEC held a press conference to declare the election schedule for municipal councils and nagar panchayats. However, no such announcement was made for municipal corporations. Consequently, the PMC can continue with its development works, project approvals, tender procedures, and daily administrative operations without restrictions, said the Commissioner.

Prior to the announcement, there was widespread speculation that the Code of Conduct might be enforced in Pune. Commissioner Ram, however, contacted state secretaries directly to seek clarity and confirmed that “the Model Code of Conduct is not applicable to the Pune Municipal Corporation area at this stage.” The clarification has provided much-needed relief to both citizens and the civic administration.

Development Works to Continue Uninterrupted

Since the election notification for the PMC area has not been issued, all ongoing and upcoming development activities will proceed as planned.
Projects related to river rejuvenation, infrastructure upgrades, solid waste management, and property tax collection will face no administrative hurdles. The Model Code of Conduct will come into effect only after the official election notification is released.

‘Abhay Yojana’ Under Review

The PMC’s tax department is currently reviewing the proposal for the Abhay Yojana, which aims to provide relief to property tax defaulters.
With no election restrictions in place, the administration now has additional time to study and refine the plan.
“The scheme will be implemented only after careful evaluation of all aspects,” assured Commissioner Ram.

Citizens Get Relief

Following the announcement of the state’s local elections, many citizens feared that the Code of Conduct might halt civic works in Pune.
However, after the Commissioner’s clarification, those concerns have been put to rest.
Development projects can now continue on schedule, ensuring that the city’s civic progress remains unaffected.