MNS candidate Abhijeet Panse withdraws ahead of Maharashtra council polls

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate Abhijeet Panse has withdrawn from the fray for the upcoming state legislative council election from the Konkan Graduates' constituency, a party leader said on Friday. The party had last month announced filmmaker Panse's candidature for the legislative council elections slated to be held on June 26. "Panse will not be in the fray from the Konkan Graduates' constituency," said party spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande. The development comes after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met MNS chief Raj Thackeray last week. BJP MLC Niranjan Davkhare currently represents the constituency, and the party has renominated him. The biennial elections to four legislative council seats Mumbai Graduates, Konkan Graduates, Mumbai Teachers and Nashik Teachers became necessary as the terms of sitting members are expiring in July. The last date for filing the nominations is June 7. Voting will be held on June 26, and results will be declared o