Goa Congress leader Ketan Bhatikar dies after snakebite near Goa-Karnataka border

Goa Congress leader Dr Ketan Bhatikar, who was the party's face during the recently cancelled Ponda assembly bypoll, died after being bitten by a snake, police said on Friday. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who is visiting the coastal state, offered their condolences on Bhatikar's demise. The incident occurred on Thursday night when Bhatikar (38) was on his way to Dandeli village in Karnataka. "Bhatikar had got down at Karmal Ghat, on the Goa-Karnataka border, for some reason, when a snake bit him. He was rushed to the Primary Health Centre in Dharbandora, Goa, where doctors declared him brought dead," a police official said. Bhatikar was the Congress candidate for the Ponda by-election, which was cancelled following a high court verdict. He had moved the Supreme Court against the HC order through a Special Leave Petition, which is pending before the apex court. CM Sawant paid tribute to Bhatikar, calling his death a profound loss

Dr Ketan Bhatikar, renowned physiotherapist, was the Congress candidate for the Ponda by-election, which was cancelled following a high court verdict. He had moved the Supreme Court against the HC order through a Special Leave Petition, which is pending before the apex court.

Bhatikar had recently contested as the Congress candidate in the Ponda assembly bypoll, which was later cancelled following a high court verdict.

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee paid tribute to its party leader and extended condolences to the bereaved family, as well as his friends and supporters

Goa Congress leader Ketan Bhatikar dies after snake bite near Goa-Karnataka border.