Sunetra Pawar Set for Unopposed Victory in Baramati By-Election After Congress Withdrawal
Sunetra Pawar's Path to Victory
Sunetra Pawar, the wife of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is poised to win the Baramati by-election uncontested following the Congress party's decision to withdraw from the race. This move comes as a gesture of respect towards Ajit Pawar, who tragically passed away in a plane crash while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on January 28.
Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal stated that the party had initially nominated Akash More to contest the by-election, but after persistent pressure from NCP leaders, they opted to retract his candidacy. Sapkal mentioned that internal discussions led them to believe their decision was sound, yet the party ultimately decided against More's candidacy in light of Maharashtra's traditions and the external pressures they faced.
He further expressed that Ajit Pawar's passing was indeed unfortunate, noting that Pawar had previously been associated with the Congress party. Sunetra Pawar has reached out to him multiple times, and a delegation also met with him. Senior NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, along with Rohit Pawar from the NCP, have made similar requests and expressed regret over statements made against the Congress.
The announcement regarding the withdrawal of nominations was made on the final day, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding Congress's position. By 1:45 PM on Thursday, 20 candidates had withdrawn their nominations for the Baramati by-election, which initially saw a total of 55 candidates submit their papers. Supriya Sule directly appealed to the Congress leadership on Thursday, framing this decision as a tribute. In a post on X, she highlighted that following Ajit Pawar's untimely demise, a by-election is now imminent in the Baramati constituency. She emphasized Pawar's long-standing connection with the Congress party, urging them to consider an uncontested election in Baramati as a dignified and heartfelt tribute to his legacy of public service and inclusive politics.