Sunetra Pawar may win Baramati bypoll unopposed as Congress exits race

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar may win the Baramati assembly bypoll unopposed after the Congress party withdrew its candidate on Thursday, significantly altering the dynamics of the contest triggered by the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. The bypoll, originally scheduled for April 23 , was necessitated by Ajit Pawar’s tragic passing and has become a focal point of Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Senior Congress leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala , confirmed that the party instructed its nominee Akash More to pull out of the race before Thursday’s nomination withdrawal deadline, a decision framed as a gesture of respect for Ajit Pawar’s legacy . This move follows repeated appeals from NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) figures such as Sharad Pawar , Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar , who urged Congress to step aside to facilitate a smooth, unopposed victory for Sunetra Pawar.

The decision came after intensive internal deliberations within Congress , with state leaders like Vijay Wadettiwar saying earlier in the day that the party was awaiting approval from its central high command before withdrawing its nominee. This followed days of political negotiations, including discussions between NCP leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , aimed at persuading the Congress to bow out.

Despite Congress’s withdrawal, the contest is not entirely uncontested: a large field of independent candidates remains in the fray, meaning the bypoll could still involve voting rather than a literal walkover. The presence of these independents preserves competitive elements in the race and underscores the complex political undercurrents in Baramati.

Sunetra Pawar, who filed her nomination earlier in the week, has portrayed her candidacy as a mission to carry forward her late husband’s unfinished work and commitments to the constituency, appealing for broad support and unity.

The shifting terrain reflects both the influence of the Pawar family in Baramati and the intricate negotiations among major political parties, with the Congress decision to exit seen as both a symbolic tribute and a strategic recalibration ahead of the bypoll.