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Pune's Corporate-Style Election: PPTs Replace Slogans in PMC Polls

The Pune Municipal Corporation elections are witnessing a shift towards corporate-style campaigning, led by BJP candidates with professional backgrounds. They are using PowerPoint presentations and structured manifestos outlining time-bound goals and measurable benchmarks for civic issues. This approach emphasizes transparency, with commitments to share progress reports with residents every six months. Political analysts see this as a response to changing expectations among Pune's growing population of IT professionals and young voters who prioritize efficiency over emotional appeals.

Key Points: Pune PMC Elections See Corporate-Style PPT Campaigning

  • Corporate-style manifestos replace traditional rallies
  • Focus on data, timelines & measurable outcomes
  • Targets educated urban & IT professional voters
  • Emphasizes transparency with 6-month progress reports
2 min read

PPT slides replace slogans, banners, as PMC elections see new campaigning style

BJP candidates in Pune use PowerPoint presentations and corporate-style manifestos, focusing on data and timelines, to appeal to urban voters.

"The idea is to treat governance as professional management. - Surendra Pathare"

Pune, January 6

With the Pune Municipal Corporation elections approaching, a noticeable shift is emerging in the city's political landscape. In pockets such as the posh areas of Viman Nagar, Lohegaon and Wagholi under Ward No. 3 of the PMC, traditional campaign slogans and street-corner speeches are gradually giving way to presentations, charts and timelines, signalling a new style of electioneering driven by highly educated, professional candidates.

At the centre of this evolving trend are Aishwarya Pathare and Surendra Pathare, BJP candidates with strong business and professional backgrounds, who have introduced a "corporate-style manifesto" that mirrors boardroom strategies more than conventional political rhetoric. The manifesto, presented through structured documents and PowerPoint-based briefings, outlines time-bound goals, outcome-driven solutions, and measurable governance benchmarks.

Speaking to ANI, Aishwarya Pathare, a professional engineer and entrepreneur, said, "Rather than listing generic assurances, the manifesto focuses on execution. It details plans to address long-pending civic challenges in Lohegaon, Wagholi and Viman Nagar, including infrastructure gaps, traffic congestion and unplanned urban expansion. Proposals include road widening to ease traffic bottlenecks, strengthening public transport connectivity, regulating unauthorised construction and ensuring the delivery of basic civic amenities through planned development."

A key element of the campaign is its emphasis on transparency and accountability. The candidate has committed to sharing progress reports with residents every six months, a practice more commonly associated with corporate project management than political office. Campaign meetings feature data-backed presentations, project timelines and performance indicators, offering voters a clearer picture of how promises would be implemented.

Political analysts see this as a reflection of changing voter expectations in urban centres like Pune, where a growing population of IT professionals, entrepreneurs and young voters are seeking governance models that prioritise efficiency and measurable outcomes over emotional appeals.

"The idea is to treat governance as professional management," Surendra Pathare, BJP candidate and engineer from Ward No. 4, said during interactions with residents, underscoring the belief that politics should move beyond speeches and focus on delivery.

The approach has found traction particularly among educated urban voters, with social media amplifying discussions around the so-called "corporate manifesto."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
This is interesting. I've lived in Pune for 5 years and the traffic and infrastructure issues in these areas are real. If they can actually deliver on road widening and public transport with quarterly reports, it would be a game-changer. But the proof will be in the execution.
R
Rohit P
Corporate-style manifesto sounds fancy, but will it connect with the common *aam aadmi*? Not everyone in Wagholi is an IT professional. They need to ensure their PPTs don't become another form of *jumla*. The six-month report card idea is good, though.
P
Priya S
As a resident of Lohegaon, the unplanned construction is a nightmare. If these candidates have a solid, data-backed plan to regulate it, they have my vote. The old style of just putting up banners and giving speeches has solved nothing. Time for a change!
K
Karthik V
I appreciate the intent, but let's be real. Politics in India is about ground-level connections and understanding local issues deeply. A corporate presentation can feel disconnected. They must balance this new style with genuine *jan-sampark*. Hope they walk the talk.
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Michael C
This is a refreshing approach. Transparency and data-driven governance should be the norm everywhere. The commitment to share progress reports publicly is a strong step towards accountable leadership. Pune could set an example for other Indian cities.

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