In a closely watched electoral battle, BJP candidate Murlidhar Mohol is leading in the Pune Lok Sabha seat, securing a significant edge over Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar. As of the latest update, Mohol has garnered 31,793 votes, while Dhangekar trails with 28,571 votes, giving Mohol a lead of 3,222 votes (Free Press Journal) (ABP News).
Mohol, who previously served as the Mayor of Pune, has been an active figure in local politics, organizing various cultural and community events to strengthen his public image. His candidacy was supported by key figures in the Maharashtra BJP, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Free Press Journal).
Ravindra Dhangekar, known for his surprising victory in the 2022 Kasba Peth bypolls, has a history of political involvement starting from his days with the Shiv Sena and later the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Despite his strong grassroots presence and the support of the Congress party, he has not been able to surpass Mohol in this election (Free Press Journal).
In the 2019 elections, the Pune seat was won by BJP’s Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, who defeated Congress candidate Mohan Joshi by a significant margin. This year’s results indicate a continued preference for the BJP in this constituency (ABP Live).
With the vote counting still underway, the final results are eagerly awaited by both parties and their supporters. The outcome of the Pune Lok Sabha seat will be crucial in shaping the political landscape of Maharashtra in the coming years (Lokmat).