Sharad Pawar Appeals to Congress to Withdraw from Baramati Bypoll, Support Sunetra Pawar
In a significant political development, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has publicly advised the Congress party to withdraw its candidate from the Baramati seat for the upcoming bypolls and instead support NCP chief Sunetra Pawar. This appeal comes just hours before the deadline for withdrawal of nominations, which ends today at 3 pm for both the Baramati and Rahuri bypolls.
Shift in Stance as Deadline Looms
Earlier, Sharad Pawar had stated that there was nothing wrong with the Congress contesting the Baramati seat. However, in a notable change of position on the final day for withdrawals, he urged his alliance partner at both the Centre and state levels to step aside. "Maharashtra lost a talented politician like Ajit Pawar. The Baramati seat got vacant due to an accident. Against that backdrop, my advice to the Congress party would be not to contest the seat," Pawar said.
He emphasized that while the Congress is a national party and suggestions can be made, the ultimate decision rests with them. "Congress is a national party and we can at the most suggest to them. Ultimately, the decision has to be taken by that party," he added, highlighting the delicate nature of alliance politics.
Intensified Efforts to Persuade Congress
Ahead of the deadline, NCP (SP) leaders have ramped up efforts to convince the Congress to withdraw from the Baramati contest. Key developments include:
- NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar met state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal in Mumbai on Thursday morning, urging him to withdraw the party's candidate.
- NCP chief Sunetra Pawar also spoke directly to Sapkal, making a similar request for support.
These moves underscore the strategic importance of the Baramati seat, which became vacant following an accident, and the desire to consolidate support behind Sunetra Pawar in the bypoll.
Political Implications and Alliance Dynamics
The appeal by Sharad Pawar reflects broader tensions and negotiations within the political alliances in Maharashtra. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the Congress party's response, which could impact the outcome of the bypoll and future coalition strategies. The situation highlights the ongoing realignments and power plays in state politics, with Baramati serving as a critical battleground.
