Panaji, March 18 The opposition Congress party has announced Dr. Ketan Bhatikar as its candidate for the upcoming Ponda assembly by-election in Goa.
The by-election to the Ponda constituency in South Goa is scheduled for April 9, necessitated by the death of the sitting BJP MLA and former Minister of Agriculture, Ravi Naik.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopal announced on Tuesday that Bhatikar would be contesting on the party ticket.
Bhatikar, a physiotherapist by profession, recently joined the Congress after resigning from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
His name was approved for the by-election during the state Congress election committee meeting held in Panaji on Monday.
AICC Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakre chaired the meeting, which was attended by other leaders, including state Congress chief Amit Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
Responding to the announcement, Patkar in a social media post on Tuesday said, "Congratulations to Dr. Ketan Bhatikar on being approved as the Congress candidate for the Ponda Assembly by-election. Ponda is ready for positive change, and I am confident that with the support of the people, Congress will emerge victorious."
"Wishing Dr. Bhatikar all the very best in this journey of service to the people," he added.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to announce its candidate for the by-election in the state, which has a 40-member assembly.
BJP Goa president Damodar Naik had earlier told reporters that the party has shortlisted the names, which have been sent to the party high command in New Delhi.
