Congress Moves to Contest Baramati Bypoll as NCP (SP) Withdraws Support
In a significant political development in Maharashtra, the Congress party has officially staked its claim to contest the upcoming Baramati assembly bypoll. This move comes after the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), commonly referred to as NCP (SP), made a clear announcement that it will not field any candidate against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar for the April 23 by-election.
Congress Firm on Contesting the Seat
Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal confirmed the party's stance on Thursday, stating that they have received six applications from aspirants for the Baramati seat. "If NCP (SP) is not contesting these seats, our party will, and we are firm about it," Sapkal declared during online interviews with potential candidates. He further noted that the party has also received four applications for the Rahuri assembly seat, indicating a broader strategy for the bypolls.
Background of the Bypoll
The Baramati bypoll was necessitated by the tragic death of Sunetra Pawar's husband, Ajit Pawar, who served as the deputy chief minister at the time. Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash on January 28, 2024. He was an eight-time Member of the Legislative Assembly from his home turf of Baramati, making this seat a politically sensitive and historically significant one for the Pawar family.
Sunetra Pawar, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member and the president of the NCP, is set to file her nomination papers on April 6. According to party sources, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are expected to be present during the nomination filing, highlighting the importance of this event.
BJP's Emotional Appeal to Congress
Senior BJP member Chandrashekhar Bawankule made an emotional appeal to the Congress party on Friday, urging them to reconsider their decision to contest the Baramati seat. "Nearly 75% of Ajit Pawar's political career was associated with the Congress. I appeal to its leadership for consideration and not put up any candidate in Baramati," Bawankule stated. He emphasized that respecting the long-standing relationship between Ajit Pawar and the Congress, the party should allow Sunetra Pawar to win unopposed. However, he clarified that the BJP has no objections if Congress nominates a candidate for the Rahuri seat.
Alliance Dynamics and Reactions
The NCP (SP), which had contested against Ajit Pawar in the 2024 assembly elections, has announced its withdrawal from the Baramati bypoll. This decision has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among its members regarding the Congress's firm stand to contest the seat. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT), another partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, stated that the alliance partners will collectively decide on contesting the bypoll but did not object to the Congress's preparations.
The Rahuri assembly seat bypoll was necessitated by the death of BJP MLA Shivajirao Kardile in October 2023, adding another layer to the political landscape in Maharashtra.
