Overview
- All India Congress Committee confirmed Bhatikar’s candidature after approval from party president Mallikarjun Kharge, announced by K. C. Venugopal.
- Dr Ketan Bhatikar recently left the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to join Congress and is a physiotherapist by profession.
- Congress leaders in Goa signalled openness to a united opposition arrangement, with Manikrao Thakre, Amit Patkar and Yuri Alemao backing Bhatikar.
- The Election Commission set nominations from March 16–23, scrutiny on March 24 and withdrawal by March 26, with polling on April 9 and counting on May 4.
- The by-election was triggered by the death of sitting BJP MLA and former agriculture minister Ravi Naik in the Ponda constituency.