Pune, March 2: The Congress-Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Ravindra Dhangekar won the Kasbapeth Assembly bypolls with a margin of over 11,000 votes on Thursday.

He defeated his nearest rival, the BJP's Hemant Rasane -- who conceded defeat -- even as the official announcement is expected soon. Dhangekar's victory is considered a political setback for the BJP, as the Congress stormed and bagged its bastion, Kasbapeth. Kasba Peth, Chinchwad Assembly By-Election Result 2023 Live News Updates: Big Victory for Congress As Ravindra Dhangekar Wins From Kasba Peth.

In Chinchwad, BJP nominee Ashwini L. Jagtap continued to lead with a considerable margin over the Nationalist Congress Party-MVA rival Vithal 'Nana' Kate, and Shiv Sena (UBT) rebel Rahul Kalate, contesting as an Independent.

At 12 noon, Jagtap had secured 53,000 votes over Kate's 43,700 votes and Kalate's 16,900 votes, at the end of the 15th round of counting, with the final results likely by late afternoon. Kasba Peth Assembly By-Election Result 2023: Ravindra Dhangekar Wins, Congress Bags Seat After More Than 30 Years.

The two hotly contested bypolls were necessitated on account of the death of the sitting BJP MLAs -- Mukta J. Tilak (Kasbapeth) and Laxman P. Jagtap (Chinchwad).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 02, 2023 01:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).