'Vote For Us, Win Thailand Tour, SUV, Gold': Pune Poll Candidates Woo Voters With Extravagant Freebies

As the Pune municipal election is approaching, aspiring corporators have begun courting voters with a baffling list of freebies and gifts, ranging from foreign trips to expensive cars, and from jewellery to sarees to woo homemakers.

In Lohegaon-Dhanori ward, Shashikant Tingre of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has vowed to offer 11 women the chance to win 1,100 square feet of land each. Registration forms were collected for the draw, which Tingre described as a gift for his ‘Ladaki Bahin’, referring to women supporters.

A Viman Nagar candidate has offered couples a 5-day luxury tour to Thailand. SUVs, two-wheelers, and gold jewellery are being offered, via 'lucky draws', in other wards. 

Utilising social media platforms to enhance reach, Kiran Dagade Patil, a BJP candidate from Bavdhan, offered free pilgrimage trips to Sajjangad and Ujjain for residents of his ward. Patil also organised inter-society sports competitions with tempting prizes. 500 girls were given bicycles during the outreach program, while a cultural programme featuring the Folk Prabodhan Band was organised in the area.

Moreover, aspiring candidates have taken care of female voters and homemakers as well, with thousands of Paithani sarees, a handwoven silk saree with vibrant colours and intricate designs sewn directly into the fabric with pure gold or silverto take care of female voters. Also, these sarees have already been distributed, as have sewing machines and cycles 

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, several candidates have arranged cricket tournaments, offering attractive cash prizes to draw youth participation. Music concerts and free cultural programmes like theatre performances are also being organised in different localities. 

With cash prizes of Rs 1 lakh, Cricket leagues have been set up for sports enthusiast voters, underlining the competition among aspirants eager to flex their financial powers. In addition to this, some aspirants have even distributed free movie tickets, particularly targeting women associated with self-help groups as part of their campaign strategies.

Pawar reunion is on the cards

As Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) announced an alliance ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, things are happening in Pune too, as both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) might reunite for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) polls.

Senior Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar, however, has made it clear that the Indian National Congress will go solo in Mumbai after Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced their alliance. With the possibility of an alliance forming between NCP and NCP-SP in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Wadettiwar has said that the Congress will go solo in Pune too if this happens.  

Speaking to reporters recently, Wadettiwar said, “We have heard that both NCPs are coming together in Pune. We are discussing this matter with Sharad Pawar. If both NCPs come together, we don't have an option. We will contest civic polls in Pune independently.”