Maharashtra: Congress fields Ravindra Hemraj Dhangekar for Kasba Peth bye-elections

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 7 (ANI): The Congress party has decided to field Ravindra Hemraj Dhangekar for the bye-election to the Kasba Peth Assembly constituency in Maharashtra.
"The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the candidature of Ravindra Hemraj Dhangekar as Congress candidate for the ensuing bye-election to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra from 215- Kasba Peth Constituency," a press release by the party said on Monday.
However, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra has decided to contest the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Pune together.
As part of an agreement arrived at between the MVA partners, the Congress will contest the Kasba Assembly bypoll while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will represent the Opposition alliance in the battle for the Chinchwad constituency.
The Election Commission on January 25 revised dates for the upcoming bypolls in Pune to February 26, Sunday. The twin bypolls were earlier scheduled to be held on February 27.
"The District Election Officer of Pune, Maharashtra has reported regarding the clash of the date of the poll with the dates of the 12th Standard HSC exam and graduate degree exam to be conducted at various Polling Stations of the Assembly Constituencies where bye-elections are being held," the EC said in a statement on January 25.
"Consequent upon which, the Commission having considered the matter, ground situation and all other relevant aspects of the matter, has decided to revise the date of poll for bye-elections to Assembly Constituencies 205- Chinchwad and 215-Kasba Peth of Maharashtra," it added.
The counting of votes for the bypolls to the two Pune Assembly segments will be conducted on March 2.
The bye-elections to Kasba Peth and Chinchwad was necessitated following the death of BJP leaders Mukta Shailesh Tilak and Laxman Pandurang Jagtap, respectively.
Kasba Peth MLA Mukta Tilak died on December 22 last year while Chinchwad MLA Laxman Jagtap passed away on January 3 after a prolonged illness. (ANI)