Tejas Navale
Pune, January 31, 2025: After two back-to-back major setbacks in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, Congress’ former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar went on the backfoot in city politics. However, his recent meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has raised many eyebrows. Recently, Eknath Shinde is on a Pune visit. During that, Ravindra Dhangekar met Eknath Shinde.
However, after his meeting with Eknath Shinde, many have speculated that Ravindra Dhangekar might leave the Congress and join the Shiv Sena in the backdrop of upcoming municipal corporation elections.
Two years ago, in the by-election that took place in the Kasba assembly constituency, Ravindra Dhangekar proved to be a giant killer, defeating BJP’s Hemant Rasane. This victory of Dhangekar was surprising to many as this was the first defeat of the BJP in Kasba in the last almost 30 years. After that, the prestige of Dhangekar was increased in city politics.
However, after that, he unsuccessfully contested the Pune Lok Sabha and Kasba Assembly elections. In the Lok Sabha election, he was defeated by Murlidhar Mohol, whereas his earlier rival Hemant Rasane took a successful revenge for his defeat by defeating Dhangekar in the Kasba assembly election last year.
After that, Dhangekar somewhat got sidelined from city Congress. Many political experts talked of Dhangekar switching sides from Congress in the backdrop of municipal corporation elections. However, Dhangekar’s recent meeting with Eknath Shinde suggests a step in that direction.
Originally from Shiv Sena, Dhangekar has consistently changed political parties. After Shiv Sena, he joined the MNS, and later he joined Congress after the victory in the municipal corporation elections. Now, he is again expected to join his original party.
Meantime, while commenting on the speculation of him leaving the Congress, Dhangekar said that currently he was in the Congress Party. His meeting with Eknath Shinde was purely for personal reasons, and he had no plans of leaving Congress.
