Mumbai, April 6 The opposition NCP (SP) fielded Govind Mokate for the Rahuri assembly by-election on Monday, following the withdrawal of former MLA and party leader Prajakt Tanpure.
Mokate filed his nomination papers in Rahuri, in the Ahilyanagar district, on the last day of the deadline.
He will face BJP's Akshay Kardile in the April 23 by-election, which was necessitated by the death of Kardile's father and BJP legislator, Shivajirao Kardile. The votes will be counted on May 4.
Akshay Kardile also filed his nomination papers.
Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde hailed Mokate as a grassroots worker.
Addressing reporters, Shinde said he was unaware of the reasons behind Tanpure's decision not to contest.
"He wasn't keen (to contest) in the first place. However, workers were insisting that he enter the poll fray. He has conveyed his decision (to withdraw)," he added.
In the 2024 elections, Tanpure was defeated by the late Shivaji Kardile from the Rahuri seat.