Two women relatives of jailed gangster Bandu Andekar win Pune civic polls, spark controversy
Controversy erupted after two women relatives of jailed gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar won from Ward No. 23 in the Pune civic polls. Fielded by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP despite criticism over alleged criminal links, the victories came even as both candidates remain in judicial custody.
New Delhi: Controversy erupted on Friday after two relatives of gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, who is currently lodged in jail in connection with the murder of his grandson, won from Ward No. 23 in the Pune civic polls. The winners—Sonali Andekar, Bandu Andekar’s daughter-in-law, and his sister-in-law Laxmi Andekar—were fielded by the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The party had faced sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for nominating candidates with alleged criminal links.
Sonali Andekar is the wife of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar, who was murdered on September 1, 2024, in Pune’s Nana Peth area. Vanraj was allegedly killed by Ganesh Komkar, the husband of one of his two sisters, following a property dispute. A year later, in 2025, Ganesh Komkar’s 19-year-old son, Ayush Komkar, was murdered, allegedly in an act of revenge. Bandu Andekar, his son Krushna Andekar, Sonali Andekar, Laxmi Andekar, and others were subsequently arrested in connection with the case. While Bandu, Sonali, and Laxmi are currently in judicial custody, the NCP went ahead and fielded the two women candidates from the ward, a move that triggered widespread criticism.
Legacy and local work power Andekar wins
In a closely contested contest, Sonali Andekar defeated Pratibha Dhangekar, wife of former MLA and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar, while Laxmi Andekar edged past BJP candidate Rutuja Gadale by a slender margin.Mithun Chavan, a lawyer associated with the Andekar family, said the twin victories reflected the social work carried out by the family over the years. He pointed to the family’s long political legacy, noting that Vatsala Andekar had served as Pune’s mayor, while the late Udyankant Andekar and Vanraj Andekar were corporators known for raising civic issues.
Family members campaigned on behalf of jailed candidates
Chavan added that although Sonali and Laxmi were in jail during the campaign, other family members led the outreach.
"They connected with voters on the ground, and people responded positively by electing both candidates,” he said.Pradnya Andekar, a relative of the newly elected corporators, thanked the voters of the ward for reposing their faith in the family and said the elected representatives would continue to work for the betterment of local residents.