Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Putting to rest speculations over the Pune Lok Sabha seat, the Congress on Thursday declared sitting legislator Ravindra Dhangekar as its candidate for Pune, along with other strong candidates Praniti Shinde for Solapur and Shahu Maharaj for the Kolhapur seat.
Dhangekar, after his win last year in Kasba Assembly by-polls where he defeated BJP in its own bastion, clearly holds an edge over other aspirants. BJP has already declared former mayor Murlidhar Mohol as its candidate for the seat, while former MNS leader Vasant More has said he will contest as an Independent candidate.
“I am thankful to the party high command and state leaders for giving me the opportunity to contest the Pune LS seat. I, along with the party cadre, will work together to win back the seat that Congress lost in the previous two elections,” said Dhangekar.
He added that the BJP has represented the seat in Lok Sabha for ten years but have failed to carry out development in the city and meet the demands of citizens. “We will defeat the BJP, and ensure development and progress of the city,” Dhangekar said. He said further that all other contenders Mohan Joshi, Ulhas Bagul, Arvind Shinde will unitedly take on the BJP.
Last year, Dhangekar defeated BJP candidate Hemant Rasane in Kasba bypolls even as BJP in alliance with Shinde-led Sena had made the election a matter of prestige. Even a dozen state ministers, who campaigned for BJP, failed to fetch votes for BJP in its own bastion.
Dhangekar had started his political career in Shiv Sena, then moved over with Raj Thackeray after he formed the MNS. However, he quit MNS to join Congress in 2017 and emerged as a face saver after winning Kasba bypolls, which is now the only seat held by Congress in the city. Being the most popular leader in the party in Pune with a good connect with voters, Dhangekar is the natural choice for the Congress.
The Congress also declared the candidature of party legislator Praniti Shinde for Solapur and of Shahu Maharaj, descendent of Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj, in Kolhapur.
