Pune: It is learnt that the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress party has decided to field its Kasba Peth MLA Ravindra Dhangekar from the Pune Lok Sabha constituency. The party will soon announce his name, along with the list of candidates for other constituencies in the state.
Now, it is clear that there will be a straight fight between Maha Yuti’s Murlidhar Mohol and Maha Vikas Aghadi’s Ravindra Dhangekar. Mohol’s candidature has already been declared and he has started campaigning also. Though Dhangekar’s name has not been announced officially, political circles have been abuzz with the talk that his name would be finalised. It is learnt that the CEC has also zeroed in on Dhangekar’s name.
The CEC met in Delhi on Tuesday night. Earlier, CEC members also enquired with MPCC Vice-President and city Congress leader Mohan Joshi. They asked him how the fight would be if Dhangekar is pitted against Mohol. It is learnt that Joshi himself seconded Dhangkar’s name.
Dhangekar had fought the Kasba Peth assembly bypoll successfully. He had snatched away the seat, which was retained by the BJP for consecutive 28 years. All the constituents in the MVA had unitedly fought against the BJP then. The Congress expects that the same magic will be repeated in the Lok Sabha also.