PMC Polls: Candidate literally swallows rival’s AB Form!! Politics hits a new low
National Bulletin Network
Pune: Pune politics has hit a bizarre and jaw-dropping low during the scramble for Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections in Ward 36. A local politician, Uddhav Kamble, literally swallowed his rival’s AB Form to block his candidature — an incident that has left voters, party workers, and political observers in shock.
Given Kamble's act, an FIR has also been lodged with Pune Police, said sources. They further revealed that Kamble was allegedly arrested in a murder case a few months ago and had been consistently skipping trials, prompting the court to issue a non-bailable warrant.
About the incident, onlookers claimed that the chaos stemmed from an internal feud within the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Due to confusion within the party, two AB Forms were issued for the same ward. Machindra Dhawale, one of the candidates, had his form allegedly snatched and eaten by Uddhav Kamble, reportedly to sabotage Dhawale’s nomination.
This shocking act forced the Shiv Sena office to step in. In a letter to the Returning Officer, signed by Sanjay More, the party admitted the “oversight” and requested that Dhawale’s forms be treated as valid, officially making him the candidate for Ward 36. The letter, shared by Kamble himself with National Bulletin, stated, "Considering this incident as an inadvertent error, the paired forms issued to Dhawale should be accepted and recognised by our party as the official candidate forms."
When contacted, senior RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar condemned the stunt, saying, "This is a blatant attack on democracy. Swallowing someone’s nomination form is not just childish but a criminal attempt to manipulate elections. Incidents like these not only shake public trust but also show the ugly, cutthroat underbelly of politics in our city."
Kumbhar further added, "From snatching to literally gulping AB Forms, Pune politics has exposed the extreme lengths some will go to grab power. Democracy, it seems, is no longer about ideas, accountability, or voter trust; it is about who can bite, snatch, and swallow their way to victory."
Insiders concluded, “The Ward 36 incident is just the tip of the iceberg.”