Pune : Policenama online – Pune Kasba Peth Bypoll Election | The Kasba assembly bye-election will be contested by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Congressman and senior corporator Ravindra Dhangekar will be its candidate from this constituency. Dhangekar filed his nominations in the presence of veteran leaders of the MVA after visiting village deity Kasba Ganpati at 11 am on Monday. This constituency will see a strong fight against BJP’s Hemant Rasane. (Pune Kasba Peth Bypoll Election)
Dhangekar has been elected as a corporator for five consecutive terms from Raviwar Peth and Kasba Peth area. He is known as an activist who mingles with the commoners. He was elected as co-opted corporator of Shiv Sena and MNS twice each and Congress once. In the 2009 assembly elections, he had given a bitter fight to BJP’s Girish Bapat while contesting from the Kasba Peth segment on the MNS ticket. He lost by 7,000 votes. He got a significant number of votes in the 2014 elections.
Congress office-bearer Rohit Tilak, along with other leaders, played an important role in bringing him to the Congress in the 2017 municipal elections. Tilak had provided him with all possible help. Ironically, earlier in 2009 and 2014 elections, Tilak and Dhangekar fought against each other. The victory of the then MLA Girish Bapat was made easier due to the division of votes between them. Similarly, since BJP did not consider the family of late Mukta Tilak for the bypoll, there is a possibility that voters that respect Tilak will stand behind Dhangekar.
Considering the upcoming civic elections, the victory in the Kasba Peth constituency is considered important to bring more seats to the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). There is a possibility that the former Shiv Sena and MNS supporters would stand firmly behind Dhangekar. The Congress has taken this election seriously by nominating Dhangekar, who has a reputation as a man who works for people without discrimination.
After the announcement of the candidature, MPCC president Nana Patole, former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan, former Congress minister Vishwajeet Kadam, senior MLAs Sangram Thopte, Sanjay Jagtap,
Congress state vice-president Mohan Joshi, city unit president Arvind Shinde, NCP city unit president Prashant Jagtap, state spokesperson Ankush Kakde, former deputy mayor Deepak Mankar, former MLA Balasaheb Shivarkar, Dipti Chaudhari, Kamal Vyavahare, city chief of Shiv Sena Gajanan Tharkude, Sanjay More, Rajendra Shinde, Abhay Chhajed, along with office-bearers of all the three parties and activists, participated in the rally in a huge number.
After performing arati at Kasba Ganpati temple, the rally reached the Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati temple and then dissolved at Tilak statue in Mandai. The candidate, along with the prominent leaders, submitted his nomination papers to the election officials at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch.
Dhangekar visits the Tilaks
Earlier, Dhangekar met the family of late MLA Mukta Tilak in Tilakwada. After paying obeisance to Mukta Tilak’s image, he came to the rally venue at Kasba Ganpati. He met Mukta Tilak’s husband Shailesh Tilak, son Kunal Tilak and Congress leader Rohit Tilak. After the announcement of candidature, Dhangekar’s visit to Tilak family is going to make the BJP feel sick.
Bagwe father-son duo upset
Former Standing Committee chairman Rashid Shaikh returned to the Congress, in the presence of MPCC chief Nana Patole. In the 2019 election, Rashid Shaikh joined the BJP. Due to this, Congress city president Ramesh Bagwe was defeated in the Cantonment constituency by 5,000 votes. This defeat hurt Bagwe. That’s why Bagwe and his son former corporator Avinash Bagwe are upset over Rashid Sheikh’s re-entry into the Congress. Bagwe is close to former chief minister Ashok Chavan. In his presence, Ravindra Dhangekar joined the Congress in 2017. Since Dhangekar is a supporter of Bagwe, staying away from his campaign will be politically disadvantageous for Bagwe.
Join our Telegram, facebook page and Twitter for every update
Eli Bitton, Israeli luxury fashion brand, opens its first flagship store in Delhi