Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, has resigned as a Rajya Sabha member after winning the Baramati Lok Sabha bypoll. The bypoll was necessitated after her husband vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Sunetra Pawar, who contested on an NCP ticket, defeated her nearest rival, BJP candidate, by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes.
Resignation Submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman
Sunetra Pawar submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday. In her resignation letter, she stated that she was stepping down as a member of the Upper House following her election to the Lok Sabha. Her resignation has been accepted, and the Rajya Sabha secretariat has issued a notification to this effect.
Political Implications
Sunetra Pawar's resignation from the Rajya Sabha is seen as a strategic move by the NCP to consolidate its position in Maharashtra. With her victory in Baramati, the Pawar family continues to hold sway over the constituency that has been a stronghold of the NCP for decades. The bypoll result is also being viewed as a litmus test for the NCP's popularity in the wake of the split in the party last year.
The Baramati Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Sharad Pawar resigned from the Lok Sabha in June 2023, following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Sharad Pawar had represented Baramati for several terms and his decision to move to the Rajya Sabha was seen as a move to focus on national politics.
Sunetra Pawar's Political Career
Sunetra Pawar, a former chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission, entered electoral politics for the first time when she was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022. Her resignation from the Rajya Sabha now paves the way for a new NCP member to be elected to the Upper House. The NCP is expected to nominate a candidate for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat soon.
Sunetra Pawar's victory in the Baramati bypoll is significant as it marks the continuation of the Pawar family's political legacy in the region. Her win also underscores the NCP's organizational strength in western Maharashtra, despite the recent political turmoil in the state.
