Ponda: The Congress party has announced physiotherapist Dr Ketan Bhatikar as its candidate for the upcoming Ponda by-election.
The by-election is scheduled for April 9 for the Ponda Assembly constituency in South Goa following the demise of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik.
All India Congress Committee General Secretary K. C. Venugopal announced that Bhatikar will contest on a Congress ticket for the by-election.
Bhatikar recently joined the Congress after resigning from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and is a physiotherapist by profession.
The Pradesh Election Committee of the Congress, which met on Monday in Panaji, cleared his name. The meeting was chaired by AICC Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakrey and attended by leaders including Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
Responding to the announcement, Amit Patkar stated that Ponda is ready for positive change and expressed confidence that, with public support, the Congress will emerge victorious. He also extended his best wishes to Dr Bhatikar.
While the Congress has announced its candidate, the BJP is yet to finalise its nominee for the constituency. BJP Goa President Damodar Naik had earlier said that the party has shortlisted candidates and sent the names to the party high command in New Delhi, with an announcement expected soon.
