Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) National President Ajit Pawar announced the appointment of senior leader Yogesh Behl as the new Pimpri-Chinchwad City District President on Monday (October 7) evening.

The announcement was made during a crucial meeting held at Baramati, attended by Parth Pawar, where discussions centered around the Pimpri and Chinchwad assembly constituencies ahead of the upcoming state elections.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad city president post had remained vacant for over 80 days after the resignation of the previous president, Ajit Gawhane, in mid-July. Ajit Pawar, known for his prompt decision-making, chose Behl to lead the city district unit, ending the speculation surrounding the appointment.

The meeting was attended by several former corporators from Chinchwad, some of whom had previously expressed discontent over candidate selection and hinted at rebellion.

Behl expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him during a challenging period for the party. "Ajit Pawar has shown great confidence in me, and I am determined to live up to that trust," Behl said.

He added that his primary focus would be to unite the scattered factions within the party and work collaboratively with all members.

This is the second time Behl has been appointed as city president. A six-time corporator, Behl has a long and distinguished record of service in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, having held key positions such as mayor, standing committee chairman, and subject committee chair.

In 2017, after the NCP lost control of the municipal corporation, Behl became the leader of the opposition. He remained loyal to Ajit Pawar during the party’s internal split last year.

The appointment comes amid growing tension within the party in the Chinchwad constituency. Senior leader Bhausaheb Bhoir and former opposition leader Nana Kate, both contenders for the city president role, had also expressed interest in contesting the Chinchwad assembly seat, leading to uncertainty about their acceptance of the position.

Bhoir has signaled a potential rebellion for the Chinchwad candidacy, while Behl is reportedly eyeing a seat in the Legislative Council. Other names considered for the city president role included Prashant Shitole, Moreshwar Bhondve, and Mayur Kalate, but they were later dropped due to dissent over the Chinchwad candidacy.