India, Aug. 24 -- Suburbs and merged villages will have more representation than central parts of Pune in the upcoming civic polls. According to the draft ward structure released on Friday, suburbs and merged areas together will elect 85 corporators, while central city areas will pick 80 public representatives.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had dominated the last polls in the old city, appears to have retained its stronghold. Most of the wards where all four BJP corporators won in 2017 remain largely unchanged, with only nominal alterations. On the other hand, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has influence in several merged villages, faces a setback as its wards have been redrawn and expanded.

Congress city unit pre...