From crores to hundreds of crores: How Pune’s former civic body leaders from BJP saw their wealth double in 9 years

An analysis of office bearers from the BJP-run Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) during the previous five-year term shows that most of those now contesting the upcoming civic elections have doubled their property holdings over the past nine years.

The last PMC election was held in 2017, and the elected body’s five-year term ended in 2022. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious in that election, securing control of the civic body for the full term. However, the subsequent elections were delayed from 2022 to 2026 due to reservation-related issues that were challenged in the Supreme Court.

The PMC election is scheduled for January 15, with counting of votes set for January 16.

Declarations of Yogesh Mulik, Shrinath Bhimale, Dheeraj Ghate, Ganesh Bidkar

Of the four standing committee chairpersons, Murlidhar Mohol, Yogesh Mulik, Sunil Kamble, and Hemant Rasane in the previous term, only Mulik is contesting the PMC election this year. Mohol has been elected to Lok Sabha, and Rasane and Kamble are now in the Maharashtra Assembly.

As per the details furnished by Mulik in his election affidavit, the value of his property is now Rs 201.03 crore, as against Rs 109.98 crore in 2017. The main contribution to his assets is immovable property, namely land, while he has gold valued at Rs 77.80 lakh (630 grams), according to the affidavit.

During the BJP’s previous term in the Pune Municipal Corporation, three corporators successively held the post of Leader of the House in the general body, overseeing the party’s affairs in the civic body. All three — Shrinath Bhimale, Dheeraj Ghate, and Ganesh Bidkar — are now contesting the elections.

In his declaration, Bhimale has said he now owns property worth Rs 91.73 crore, up from Rs 40.08 crore in 2017. He also said he and his wife own 2.05 kg gold ornaments worth Rs 2.56 crore and 17 kg silver ornaments worth Rs 17.34 lakh.

Ghate, who is also the Pune BJP chief, declared his property value to be Rs 2.99 crore now, as against Rs 12.47 lakh in 2017. His growth in property is mainly due to his business and the job of his wife.

According to his election affidavit, BJP leader Ganesh Bidkar currently owns assets worth Rs 41.19 crore, up from Rs 34.69 crore in 2017. His holdings include both commercial and residential properties across various parts of Pune. His primary sources of income are several private firms that he owns either wholly or in partnership.

During the BJP’s previous five-year term in PMC, the party also had two of its corporators serve as mayor — Mukta Tilak and Murlidhar Mohol. Tilak, a member of the Lokmanya Tilak family, was later elected to the Maharashtra Assembly, and subsequently passed away due to illness. Mohol was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024 and currently serves as a Union minister.

The BJP also had four deputy mayors in the previous term. Navnath Kamble passed away while on the post, and his position was given to Siddarth Dhende. Saraswati Shendge and Sunit Wadekar then held the post, but neither is contesting the civic polls this time. However, a family member is in the fray.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was the main Opposition party, and the post of leader of Opposition in PMC in the previous term was initially held by Dilip Barate and later by Deepali Dhumal.

Barate, who recently joined the BJP, filed his nomination as an Independent for the ongoing civic polls but later withdrew it. He declared his assets to be Rs 22.07 crore at present, up from Rs 8.35 crore in 2017.

Dhumal, who is again contesting the Pune civic elections, now has property valued at Rs 5.47 crore, up from Rs 51.10 lakh in 2017.