Pune: As the Assembly election draws near, political tensions are rising in the Kasba Peth Assembly Constituency, particularly within the Congress party. Recent developments have sparked a debate over candidacy, with various factions advocating for different candidates.

Just days ago, a candidate list from Congress went viral, stating that sitting MLA Ravindra Dhangekar would once again be the party’s nominee from Kasba constituency.

Overjoyed by the news, Dhangekar shared the list on social media, only to realize later that the list was fake. He was forced to delete the post, but the damage was done as it stirred confusion among supporters.

Further complicating matters, former Mayor Kamal Vyavahare declared her candidacy from the same constituency. As the party has yet to announce its official candidate for Kasba, the uncertainty continues.

In another twist, a group of Congress Muslim workers from the Kasba constituency met with Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala at Mumbai airport, requesting that a Muslim candidate be fielded from Kasba Peth constituency.

They proposed the name of senior leader Mukthar Shaikh for the nomination. According to reports, Chennithala assured them that their request would be considered.

Muktar Shaikh, who has been with Congress for over 40 years, emphasized the need for Muslim representation in the upcoming election. He expressed his belief that the time had come for the Muslim community to have a voice in the Kasba Assembly.

Shaikh mentioned that many citizens of the constituency had complained about the current MLA’s inaccessibility, and he had conveyed their concerns to senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Nana Patole.

Shaikh also revealed that he had met NCP leader Sharad Pawar, who acknowledged the Muslim community's support for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and assured that he would raise the matter in the coalition's meetings.

Meanwhile, the BJP is advocating for a Brahmin candidate from Kasba, further intensifying the pressure on Congress to finalize its nominee. With both parties facing internal debates over their candidates, the race for Kasba is becoming increasingly tense.