In a dramatic turn of events, Sonali Vanraj Andekar (35) and Lakshmi Udaykant Andekar (60), both representing the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have emerged victorious in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections from ward 23—despite contesting from jail.
Sonali, daughter-in-law of gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar (70), and Lakshmi, his sister-in-law, are currently imprisoned at Yerwada Jail in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar, Bandu Andekar’s grandson.
Initially trailing in the first two rounds of vote counting, Sonali rallied to secure 13,819 votes, defeating Pratibha Dhangekar, wife of prominent Shiv Sena politician Ravindra Dhangekar, who received 10,590 votes. BJP’s Anuradha Manche finished third with 10,295 votes.
The win highlights the enduring influence of the Andekar family in Pune politics, even amidst ongoing legal battles.
