- Sunetra Pawar will win Baramati bypoll unopposed after Congress withdrew its candidate
- Congress withdrew as a mark of respect for Sunera Pawar's, husband, the late Ajit Pawar
- The NCP leader died on January 28 in a crash as his plane tried landing at the Baramati airstrip
Sunetra Pawar - the wife of the late former Nationalist Congress Party leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar - will win the Baramati bypoll unopposed after the Congress withdrew its candidate.
The bypoll had been scheduled for April 23.
But the Congress backed out two weeks prior, on Thursday afternoon, as a mark of respect for Ajit Pawar, who died after his chartered plane crashed January 28 while trying to land at the Baramati airstrip.
RECAP | Pawar's Plane Was Attempting 2nd Approach To Airport When It Crashed
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, the party's state in-charge, confirmed the development, telling reporters, "The bypoll became necessary due to the tragic death of Ajit Pawar. As a mark of respect for him, Congress will not contest."
Earlier today Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the Congress' state unit chief, Harshwardhan Sapkal, to ask him to stand down his party's candidate. The Congress had nominated Akash More, an advocate, which led to Parth Pawar, Ajit and Sunetra Pawar's son, criticising the Congress for fielding a candidate and predicted the party's "downfall".
Appeals to withdraw also came from leaders from the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar, including the party's acting chief Supriya Sule and the party boss' grandnephew, Rohit Pawar. Sharad Pawar, who formed his NCP in 1999 after breaking away from the Congress, said he could not direct his former employer to withdraw but could strongly urge it to do so.
"Baramati seat fell vacant due to a tragic accident that snatched away an efficient leader... if asked, I would advise Congress it will be appropriate to make this bypoll unopposed," the veteran politician said.
Sources also said Sunetra Pawar herself - who also took over her late husband's post as Deputy Chief Minister, the appointment ratified days after his death - spoke to Sakpal to stress Ajit Pawar's relationship with the Congress.
RECAP | Sunetra Pawar Becomes Maharashtra's 1st Woman Deputy Chief Minister
A host of other senior politicians - including the NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde - also spoke to the Congress, pointing out Ajit Pawar had earlier been allied with it and even fought elections as its member (in 1991 and 1995).
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati on Jan 28, 2026 (File).
There is, however, a caveat; the Congress wants a police case is filed over Ajit Pawar's death.
The Congress naming a candidate sparked talk of a rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the opposition alliance that also includes Sharad Pawar's NCP and the Shiv Sena (UBT), i.e., the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.
READ | Allies Want To Let Sunetra Pawar Win Baramati Bypoll, Congress Not On Board
The Sena UBT had earlier also said it is unlikely to field a candidate.
Today was the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
The seat had been held by Ajit Pawar since the 1991 bypoll - when he won it as a Congress candidate - till he died this year. Before that it was held by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, for 24 years.
It is part of the larger Baramati district that is the Pawar family's stronghold.
Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination papers on Monday.
