Citizen Forums in Pune Flag Anomalies in PMC Ward Formation: Data, Governance, and the Larger Question of Civic Elections
The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) recently proposed ward formations for the upcoming civic polls have ignited sharp debates across the city. While civic elections are routine pre-election exercises, this round has attracted unusual scrutiny, with citizen forums, housing associations, and activists questioning the methodology, fairness, and transparency of the ward demarcations. Allegations of Arbitrary Boundaries Through a public notice issued on August 22, 2025 , PMC invited objections and suggestions on its draft ward boundaries until September 4. What began as a procedural step has escalated into a city-wide controversy , with residents alleging that the ward boundaries are arbitrarily drawn, outdated, and disconnected from ground realities . Kondhwa, Kausarbaug, and NIBM Annexe residents objected to their developed residential areas being merged with slum pockets and forested lands, leading to diluted voter representation. In Wagholi , the Housing Societies Associa...