Focus Shifts to Committee Chairperson Posts in Pune Zilla Parishad; Milind Walunj Emerges as Frontrunner

Names of Santosh Raut, Tushar Thorat and Amol Nalawade also in discussion

Pune: After the completion of the election process for the posts of President and Vice-President of Pune Zilla Parishad, political attention has now shifted to the selection of chairpersons of the subject committees. With Veerdhawal Jagdale (Daund) elected as President and Vivek Valse-Patil (Ambegaon) as Vice-President, political circles believe that, in order to maintain regional balance, Mulshi and Maval talukas may receive representation in the next round of appointments. In this backdrop, the name of architect and young member Milind Walunj from Paud group is being discussed prominently.

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) continues to hold a dominant position in the Zilla Parishad, and aspirants have begun active lobbying for the chairperson posts of four key committees — Public Works, Social Welfare, Women and Child Welfare, and Agriculture & Animal Husbandry.

These committees are considered highly significant from the perspective of rural development. As the posts of President and Vice-President have already gone to experienced leadership, there is a strong possibility that younger faces may be given opportunities in the committee chairperson roles. Among the names being discussed are Milind Walunj, Santosh Raut, Tushar Thorat and Amol Nalawade.

Among them, Milind Walunj is being seen as a strong contender, particularly for the Public Works Committee Chairperson post. A qualified architecture graduate, Walunj is known not only as a political leader but also as a professional with sound technical knowledge of construction, planning, design and infrastructure development. His educational background, combined with experience in the industrial and social sectors, is being viewed as a major strength.

Walunj is also considered to have the advantage of being a well-educated young face with a legacy rooted in the Warkari tradition, making him a distinctive and credible option for leadership. Party workers believe that his appointment could help bring technical momentum to pending road and building projects across the district.

The NCP has consistently maintained a political line of giving importance to young leadership and capable emerging faces. In that context, there is growing speculation that Walunj may be entrusted with one of the Zilla Parishad’s most important responsibilities. His possible appointment is also being seen as an opportunity to encourage more educated youth to actively associate with party work and governance.

Political observers believe that if a capable and academically qualified young leader is elevated, it could strengthen the party’s grassroots organisational base and attract more youth participation. With growing support from party workers for leaders like Walunj, all eyes are now on the party leadership and their final decision regarding the committee chairperson posts.
The district now waits to see who will ultimately be entrusted with these crucial responsibilities, and whether Milind Walunj’s name receives official approval in the days ahead.