Former Maharashtra Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar will join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Monday, citing the demand of his supporters to rejoin the party from where he had begun his political career. "Dhangekar was originally a Shiv Sena leader who entered politics under the leadership of Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. We wanted him to rejoin Shiv Sena," said a Shiv Sena supporter. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde is expected to attend the event welcoming Dhangekar back into the Sena fold. Dhangekar met Shinde a few months ago and Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant a few days ago but ruled out leaving the Congress, stating that his visit was for personal and not political reasons. Dhangekar was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Congress candidate from the Kasba Peth constituency in the bypoll held in 2023 as he defeated the BJP in its bastion. However, he lost the seat in the 2024 Assembly polls as the BJP's Hemant Rasane triumphed. Before that, Dhangekar was defeated in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from Pune after being given an opportunity by the Congress due to his popularity. He lost the Lok Sabha polls to the BJP's Murlidhar Mohol. Dhangekar was first elected as corporator of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Shiv Sena ticket. He followed Raj Thackeray after the formation of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and continued to get elected to the civic body. In 2017, he joined the Congress after being sidelined by the MNS.
