Congress Nominates Dr. Ketan Bhatikar for Ponda Bypoll

The Opposition Congress has declared Dr. Ketan Bhatikar its candidate for the Ponda byelection in Goa, scheduled for April 9. This byelection results from the passing of BJP MLA Ravi Naik, who also served as Agriculture Minister. Bhatikar, a latecomer to Congress from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, is a professional physiotherapist.

AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal made the announcement on Tuesday after a state Congress election committee meeting in Panaji, chaired by AICC Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakre. The meeting also saw the presence of other key figures, including state Congress chief Amit Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.

In response, Amit Patkar expressed confidence in Bhatikar's potential to bring positive change to Ponda, amid the BJP's delay in revealing its candidate. BJP Goa president Damodar Naik has stated that potential candidates have been shortlisted and forwarded to New Delhi for approval.