Pimpri-Chinchwad, 3rd February 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision to field Ravi Babasaheb Landge as its mayoral candidate for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has exposed signs of internal unease, after a senior party leader declined the deputy mayor nomination in a dramatic turn of events just days before the civic body’s leadership election.
Landge’s candidature was finalised at a party meeting on Monday, virtually ensuring his unopposed election as Mayor when the formal vote takes place on February 6. However, the announcement was overshadowed by dissent from Veejay Gorakh Shinde, popularly known as Sheetal Shinde, who refused to accept the Deputy Mayor post and left the PCMC headquarters shortly after the decision was declared.
Party sources indicated that Shinde had been expecting consideration for the top post and was dissatisfied with the internal selection process. His refusal prompted the BJP to swiftly name Sharmila Raju Babar as its Deputy Mayor nominee in a last-minute change.
Babar is a seasoned corporator from Ward 15 (Nigdi Pradhikaran) and is known within civic circles for her grassroots engagement and multiple terms in office.
The BJP enjoys a clear majority in the 128-member civic body, having secured 84 seats in the recent municipal elections. With no opposition party fielding a mayoral candidate, Landge is set to assume charge without a contest.
A prominent political figure from the Bhosari area, Landge comes from an established local political family. He was elected unopposed for a second consecutive term as corporator from Ward 6, which is reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC).
While party leaders have sought to play down the episode, describing it as a routine internal matter, the developments have highlighted underlying competition within the BJP’s local leadership. The party has maintained that its focus remains on governance and development in one of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing industrial and residential hubs.
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