Pune: BJP’s Hemant Rasane Defeats Congress’ Ravindra Dhangekar from Kasba Peth
Pune: BJP's Hemant Rasane Defeats Congress' Ravindra Dhangekar from Kasba Peth
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Hemant Rasane has reclaimed Kasba Peth, a BJP bastion, by defeating Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar in the Assembly elections. Rasane secured a comfortable victory with a lead of 11,732 votes as of 12:30 PM, ensuring a clear win.
Kasba Peth, with 2.81 lakh registered voters, recorded a turnout of 58.76%. Rasane’s win marks the BJP’s return to dominance in the constituency after an unexpected loss in last year’s by-elections.
Previously, the seat was represented by BJP MLA Mukta Tilak until her demise in 2022. In the by-elections that followed, Dhangekar, the Congress candidate, pulled off a surprising victory over Rasane, ending BJP’s decades-long hold on the seat.
Dhangekar’s popularity soared after his by-election win, and Congress fielded him as a candidate for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency earlier this year. However, he lost that contest to BJP’s Murlidhar Mohol.
This time, Congress retained Dhangekar for the Assembly elections, while BJP stuck with Rasane. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) entered the fray, fielding Ganesh Bhokare. The contest was expected to be close, but Rasane secured a decisive victory.
Rasane’s win re-establishes BJP’s dominance in Kasba Peth. Dhangekar finished second, while Bhokare failed to make a significant impact.
This victory is seen as a major morale boost for the BJP in Pune, reaffirming its stronghold in the city.
