India, Jan. 4 -- As preparations gather pace for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, scrutiny of nomination affidavits has put the spotlight on the financial profiles of candidates. Among all contenders, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Surendra Pathare has emerged as the wealthiest, declaring assets worth Rs.271.85 crore.

Pathare is the son of Wadgaonsheri MLA Bapusaheb Pathare, whose political career has spanned multiple parties, including the Nationalist Corporation Party (Sharad Pawar faction). Surendra's entry into municipal politics is being seen as part of the BJP's strategy to field influential and financially strong candidates in key wards.

An engineer with an MTech degree, Pathare is making his electoral debut ...