India, Jan. 5 -- Less than two weeks for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections on January 15 and political churn in Kothrud-Bavdhan and Warje-Karvenagar has intensified; marked by defections, internal discontent, and multi-cornered contests that go beyond routine civic issues.

A key development shaping the race is the entry of several opposition aspirants into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shiv Sena (UBT) loyalist Pruthviraj Sutar, along with Sachin Dodke and Sayali Wanjale, has joined the BJP and secured party tickets from the respective wards. With union minister Murlidhar Mohol and BJP MP Medha Kulkarni both hailing from Kothrud, the inductions have turned the battle in these wards into a high-stakes contest, primarily be...