India, Jan. 16 -- Voter turnout in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections crossed the halfway mark by the end of polling on Thursday, touching around 54 per cent, marginally lower than the 55.56 per cent recorded in the 2017 civic polls. The turnout was also lower than the 61.04 per cent registered in Pune district during the 2024 Assembly elections, prompting political observers to ask a key question: who benefits from a relatively subdued voter response even as parties claimed victory.

Politically, reactions were mixed. While BJP workers began circulating victory messages by evening, citing exit polls, MP Murlidhar Mohol expressed confidence that the party would secure a clear majority by winning around 120 to 125 of the total ...