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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 2:25:54 pm

Pune’s changing political guard

After an eight-year hiatus, the municipal elections promise to usher in a new cohort of politicians and reset the city’s political rhythms Pune:  The long-delayed civic polls herald a generational shift in Pune, arguably Maharashtra’s most politically vibrant city. When voters return to the booths in December, they will be resetting the circuitry of local power. The last municipal elections were held in 2017. Since then, the city’s politics have drifted into a liminal space. The Pune...

Pune’s changing political guard

After an eight-year hiatus, the municipal elections promise to usher in a new cohort of politicians and reset the city’s political rhythms Pune:  The long-delayed civic polls herald a generational shift in Pune, arguably Maharashtra’s most politically vibrant city. When voters return to the booths in December, they will be resetting the circuitry of local power. The last municipal elections were held in 2017. Since then, the city’s politics have drifted into a liminal space. The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) term expired in May 2022, but the state dithered, leaving India’s seventh-largest city without elected urban governance for almost three years. With the prospect of polls repeatedly deferred, many former corporators had since quietly receded from the daily grind of politics, returning to business interests or simply losing relevance. When the long-pending reservation lottery for civic wards was finally conducted recently, it delivered another shock: dozens of established male aspirants discovered that their seats had vanished from under them. New guard All this has created an unusual political vacuum that younger leaders are eager to fill. Parties across the spectrum, from the BJP to the Congress to the NCP factions, are preparing to field fresher faces. Regardless of who wins, Pune seems destined to witness the rise of a new political class. The churn is already visible. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, both the BJP’s Murlidhar Mohol and the Congress’s then-candidate Ravindra Dhangekar were relative newcomers to national politics. The city’s Assembly seats have also produced new faces in recent years, including Hemant Rasne and Sunil Kamble. Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party elevated Subhash Jagtap and Sunil Tingre to leadership roles, giving them a platform to shape the party’s urban strategy. Even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a peripheral entity in Pune’s political landscape, is preparing to contest the civic polls with a wholly new leadership slate. The party most uneasy about this transition may be the Congress. Despite routinely polling between 550,000 and 600,000 votes in the city, it has struggled to convert electoral presence into organisational revival. As the Bihar election results were being announced recently, one Pune resident summed up a sentiment widely shared among Congress sympathisers: the party has votes, but not enough dynamic young leaders to carry them. The question, as he put it, is not whether the youth can help the Congress, but whether the Congress will let them. Rewind to the early 2000s, and Pune’s political landscape looked very different. The Congress then had a formidable bench which included Suresh Kalmadi, Chandrakant Shivarkar, Mohan Joshi, Ramesh Bagwe and Abhay Chhajed. The BJP had Pradeep Rawat, Anil Shirole, Girish Bapat, Vijay Kale, Vishwas Gangurde and Dilip Kamble. Sharad Pawar’s NCP, then ascendant, rested on leaders like Ajit Pawar, Ankush Kakade, Vandana Chavan and Ravi Malvadkar. But the 2014 BJP wave flattened the hierarchy. The Congress crumbled; Kalmadi and Rawat faded from view; Gangurde exited the stage. The BJP replaced its old guard with Medha Kulkarni, and then Mukta Tilak, Chandrakant Patil, Bhimrao Tapkir, Madhuri Misal and Jagdish Mulik. Now, as Pune approaches the end of 2025, even Mohol - the BJP’s rising star - risks appearing ‘senior’ in a political landscape tilting toward younger contenders. Demographics are accelerating the shift. Given that Pune’s last civic polls took place eight years ago, an entire cohort of voters since then has reached adulthood. They cast their first ballots in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections; now they will vote in municipal elections for the first time. Their concerns include urban mobility, climate resilience, digital governance, employment differ sharply from the older generation’s priorities. Their political loyalties, still fluid, are likely to crystallise around leaders who can speak to these new anxieties. The coming election promises a radical change in Pune’s political ecosystem. Long dominated by legacy figures, that ecosystem is set for nothing less than a generational reset. The departure of veteran leaders, the decennial rebalancing of parties, and the impatience of a newly enfranchised urban youth all point towards a younger, more competitive, and possibly more unpredictable political order. Whether this transition will deliver better governance remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the next generation seems determined not to wait another eight years to make itself heard.

Lost in Translation: Leadership’s Silent Crisis

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There comes a time in life when the same people who once adapted effortlessly start to resist change. As people grow older, they begin to live by their own rhythms — the music of habits, experiences, and beliefs that have shaped them over the years. They’ve seen the world, weathered storms, made sacrifices, and learned their lessons. Naturally, they believe they’ve earned the right to live life their way.


But what happens when this “my way” approach collides with a younger generation eager to do things differently? One side wants to uphold structure, the other wants to challenge it. The result is often friction — not from malice, but from misunderstanding. The older generation sees rebellion where the younger generation sees innovation. The younger ones perceive control where the older ones see guidance. And somewhere in the middle, relationships — personal and professional — begin to silently fracture.


This dynamic doesn’t just exist within families. It quietly plays out in boardrooms, across teams, and between business partners. A seasoned founder might expect obedience as a sign of respect, while a young employee may view questioning as a sign of engagement. The difference isn’t in values — it’s in expression.


Now add the layer of culture. In many Asian contexts, communication is steeped in respect. Tone matters. Hierarchy matters. The smallest gesture — offering a seat, softening a word — carries weight. In contrast, the Western world prizes directness. A straightforward “no” or “I disagree” is seen as a strength, not disrespect. But when these worlds meet — say, an Indian team collaborating with an American partner — intent often gets lost in translation.


A direct approach may feel offensive to one side, while politeness may seem evasive to the other. And suddenly, strong partnerships start to strain not because of competence but because of communication.


That’s where personal branding steps in.


You see, your brand isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you make others feel while you do it. The ability to adapt your tone, presence, and message across generations and cultures is no longer optional. It’s essential. A truly strong personal brand holds the grace to understand, the flexibility to adapt, and the intelligence to express in a way that lands right.


Think of it this way — when an older leader communicates with empathy rather than ego, their experience commands respect instead of fear. When a younger leader approaches with curiosity instead of defiance, their ideas inspire trust instead of resistance. And when both understand the subtle power of perception, collaboration naturally follows.


In the global business landscape, you’re not just managing people — you’re managing personalities, cultures, and expectations. A brand that doesn’t understand this nuance risks becoming misunderstood or, worse, irrelevant.


Refining your personal brand isn’t about changing who you are; it’s about learning how to express who you are — beautifully, intelligently, and effectively — no matter where you stand or whom you’re speaking with. It’s about ensuring that your message lands with impact, not resistance.


So, the next time you find yourself frustrated because someone “doesn’t understand” your way of working or thinking, pause and ask — have I adapted my communication to their context? Am I speaking to be understood, or am I speaking only to express?


Your tone, presence, and self-awareness form the silent language of your brand. Those who master this language stand out — not because they shout the loudest, but because they connect the deepest.


In the end, business is not just about products or profits — it’s about people. And people don’t remember what you said. They remember how you made them feel.


If you’re a business owner, founder, or leader navigating a multi-generational or multicultural environment, it may be time to reflect on how your brand is being perceived — not just by clients, but by your own teams.


Because in a world where everyone is speaking, the ones who are heard are those who understand the art of communication beyond words.


And if you’re ready to uncover what your personal brand is silently saying about you, I’d love to connect with you. Connect with me on Instagram @suaveu6, on LinkedIn Divyaa Advaani, or just email me on suaveu6@gmail.com


Reach out for a free consultation call on https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani and let’s explore how you can transform your presence into your greatest professional asset.


(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)


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