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The results of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, held on January 15, sparked controversy after two women, now imprisoned in connection with a high-profile murder case, won seats.
Despite being in judicial custody at Yerwada Central Jail, the candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar, Sonali Vanraj Andekar (35) and Lakshmi Udaykant Andekar (60), won the Pune civic polls from Ward Number 23.
Sonali Andekar is the wife of Vanraj Andekar, a former NCP corporator who was murdered on September 1, 2024, in Pune's Nana Peth locality. Both Sonali and Lakshmi were among the 16 arrested over the sensational murder of 19-year-old Ayush Komkar, who is the grandson of local gangster Suryakant ‘Bandu’ Andekar.
The Ward 23 assembly constituency encompasses the central part of the city, including areas such as Raviwar Peth and Nana Peth. Sonali Andekar is the widow of ex-corporator Vanraj Andekar and the daughter-in-law of ex-councillor Bandu Andekar.
She trailed in the early stages of counting but managed to beat Pratibha Dhangekar, wife of Shiv Sena politician Ravindra Dhangekar, by a total of 13,819 votes, the Indian Express reported. While Pratibha received 10,590, Anuradha Manche of the BJP came in third with 10,295 votes.
With 12,641 votes, Lakshmi Andekar won the election by defeating Rutuja Gadale of the BJP by a margin of 141 votes. Rutuja Gadale had 12,500 votes and came second. Ayush's mother and Bandu Andekar's daughter, Kalyani Komkar, contested the election against Lakshmi to protest her son's death, but she received only 282 votes.
The case against Lakshmi and Sonali Andekar stems from September 2025, when Ayush Komkar was allegedly shot and murdered in Pune's Bhavani Peth area .
This incident furthered the rivalry between the families of Andekars and Komkars, and it was presumed to be a case of revenge for Vanraj Andekar’s murder in 2024. Key members of the Andekar family, such as Bandu, his son Krushna Andekar, Sonali, and Lakshmi, were eventually arrested.
Conditional permission from the court allowed both women to file their nominations from jail, but their bail applications have been rejected, the Mid-Day reported.
Following their nomination and subsequent victories, the NCP has faced widespread criticism for choosing candidates with severe criminal charges against them.
Ajit Pawar and his party were also supporting the Andekar family during the election campaign. Sonali's daughter and other members of the Andekar family were noticed sharing the same platform with Ajit Pawar during election rallies held in the city.
Pradnya Andekar, a relative of the newly elected corporators, thanked voters for keeping their faith in the family, as per PTI, and promised they would continue to work for the betterment of residents.
Despite being in judicial custody at Yerwada Central Jail, the candidate of the Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar, Sonali Vanraj Andekar (35) and Lakshmi Udaykant Andekar (60), won the Pune civic polls from Ward Number 23.
Sonali Andekar is the wife of Vanraj Andekar, a former NCP corporator who was murdered on September 1, 2024, in Pune's Nana Peth locality. Both Sonali and Lakshmi were among the 16 arrested over the sensational murder of 19-year-old Ayush Komkar, who is the grandson of local gangster Suryakant ‘Bandu’ Andekar.
The Ward 23 assembly constituency encompasses the central part of the city, including areas such as Raviwar Peth and Nana Peth. Sonali Andekar is the widow of ex-corporator Vanraj Andekar and the daughter-in-law of ex-councillor Bandu Andekar.
She trailed in the early stages of counting but managed to beat Pratibha Dhangekar, wife of Shiv Sena politician Ravindra Dhangekar, by a total of 13,819 votes, the Indian Express reported. While Pratibha received 10,590, Anuradha Manche of the BJP came in third with 10,295 votes.
With 12,641 votes, Lakshmi Andekar won the election by defeating Rutuja Gadale of the BJP by a margin of 141 votes. Rutuja Gadale had 12,500 votes and came second. Ayush's mother and Bandu Andekar's daughter, Kalyani Komkar, contested the election against Lakshmi to protest her son's death, but she received only 282 votes.
The case against Lakshmi and Sonali Andekar stems from September 2025, when Ayush Komkar was allegedly shot and murdered in Pune's Bhavani Peth area .
This incident furthered the rivalry between the families of Andekars and Komkars, and it was presumed to be a case of revenge for Vanraj Andekar’s murder in 2024. Key members of the Andekar family, such as Bandu, his son Krushna Andekar, Sonali, and Lakshmi, were eventually arrested.
Conditional permission from the court allowed both women to file their nominations from jail, but their bail applications have been rejected, the Mid-Day reported.
Following their nomination and subsequent victories, the NCP has faced widespread criticism for choosing candidates with severe criminal charges against them.
Ajit Pawar and his party were also supporting the Andekar family during the election campaign. Sonali's daughter and other members of the Andekar family were noticed sharing the same platform with Ajit Pawar during election rallies held in the city.
Pradnya Andekar, a relative of the newly elected corporators, thanked voters for keeping their faith in the family, as per PTI, and promised they would continue to work for the betterment of residents.
