Uncertainty over BJP’s nominee for Kasba Peth as first list is published sans mention

Pune: For over 40 years now, the BJP has traditionally announced its nominee for the Kasba Peth seat in the first list, as it was widely regarded as a traditional bastion of the party.However, after the death of Mukta Tilak — BJP's last MLA from this seat — in 2022, Ravindra Dhangekar of Congress won the Kasba Peth seat during the bypoll held in 2023, which he fought against BJP's Hemant Rasane.A senior BJP leader, who worked closely with late MP Girish Bapat, told TOI, "It is true that the state-level BJP leadership has still not decided on the Kasba Peth candidate due to several reasons. The performance of the opponent candidate has been very strong. Further, state leaders are yet to finalise on Brahmin or non-Brahmin candidates, which was a major influencing factor in last by-poll in Kasba Peth constituency." He added, "There are three Brahmin community aspirants, who are also asking party leaders for the ticket. Among them is a well-known face with good connections to RSS leaders. The other two aspirants are family members of former BJP leaders in the city. For the last many years in Kasba Peth constituency, there was no doubt about the BJP candidate — neither among party leaders nor workers. But this time round, both still didn't know who the candidate for the state election will be."The leader added that in 1991, Bapat had lost the assembly by-poll election from Kasba Peth. "However, after two years, when the assembly elections were announced, Kasba Peth's candidate — Bapat once again — was in the first list of BJP."
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