The list reads like a who’s who of business — from Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Force Motors and Kinetic Motors, and Forbes Marshall, Atlas Copco, Sandvik Asia, Alfa Laval and Suzlon, to Volkswagen, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz.

This is the much-vaunted business hub of Pune, comprising the Assembly segments of Pimpri, Chinchwad and Bhosari. Some of the major industrial estates and many emerging SEZs are located here. With the big companies and about 7,500-odd small-scale units, the Assembly segments comprise over 10 lakh votes, including the factory employees and their families — a considerable vote bank for any party.

And while they have not been known to vote as a block, according to the chairman of the Plastic Industry Association, Madhukar Babar, that is beginning to change. For the Shiv Sena that means it has a good chance against sitting MLA and NCP rebel Vilas Lande.

What gives this view credence is the growing realisation by the industry associations of the electoral power they hold. “There are around four lakh people employed by the small-scale sector in the auto hub of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Bhosari, add to that the big industries, and we are talking about close to five lakh. Almost all of these people live in areas nearby and form a huge vote bank when their family members are taken into account. They can make or break fortunes of a candidate,” remarks Suresh Mehtre, chairman of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Industries Association.

While Mehtre admits that the employees don’t generally vote as one, he notes that the long-standing demands of the industry such as octroi abolition, better power supply and upgrade of infrastructure facilities are yet to be addressed by the political class. “Even after repeated requests to the state government and Central government, the main problems are not resolved,” he says.

... contd.