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Videos circulating on social media show a robotic dog with posters of political leaders wandering on the streets.
The counting of votes will take place on January 16. (Photo Credit: X)
Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are among the 29 municipal corporations that will hold elections on January 15. Ahead of the polling date, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that they can attract voters. This time, parties are campaigning with a lot of help from technology. From backpack-style LEDs to robotic dogs, the area is witnessing an influx of high-tech tools to gain the attention of voters.
Videos circulating on social media show a robotic dog on the streets with posters of political leaders. Another clip shows people carrying LED screens like backpacks to campaign for candidates.
Pune And Pimpri-Chinchwad Election 2026: What’s Happening?
As per the Free Press Journal, due to the limited campaigning time available, candidates are using artificial intelligence to intensify their social media presence. In many cases, AI is being utilised to create videos, content and reels. This is being done for the dual purpose of cost savings and creating promotional content in a time-efficient manner. AI is also being used for analysis of voter sentiment. Chatbots are being used to communicate with the public.
Areas such as Lohegaon, Viman Nagar and Wagholi are seeing election campaigns with project timelines, data-backed presentations and performance indicators to give voters a better picture of how promises would be implemented. Some candidates have vowed to share progress reports every six months.
Candidates Offer SUVs, Thailand Trip
According to an NDTV report, aspiring councillors have promised voters a surprising list of freebies, from foreign trips to expensive cars. Homemakers are being offered jewellery and Paithani sarees. In Lohegaon-Dhanori ward, a candidate has vowed to give 1,100 square feet of land to 11 voters via a ‘lucky draw’. A Viman Nagar candidate has offered a five-day luxury tour to Thailand for couples. SUVs and gold jewellery are being given via ‘lucky draws’ in other wards.
Who’s In The Fray?
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) election will see seven former mayors in the fray. Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) Vaishali Ghodekar and Yogesh Behl, and the BJP’s Mai Dhore, Shakuntala Darade, Aparna Doke, Rahul Jadhav and Nitin Kalje are contesting the elections. Only three former mayors had fought the last election in 2017, the Indian Express reported.
As for the Pune elections, out of the 2,650 applications received by the police for character certification, 1,560 candidates have criminal cases against them, the Times of India reported. Sixty aspiring councillors have serious cases, such as bodily offences, registered against them.
Polling in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune will be held from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on January 15. The counting of votes will take place on January 16.
Delhi, India, India
January 10, 2026, 11:47 IST
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