Sunetra Pawar Set to File Nomination for Baramati Assembly Bypoll
In a significant political development, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sunetra Pawar is scheduled to file her nomination papers for the Baramati assembly bypoll on Monday. The event will be attended by all ministers, elected members, and office-bearers of the party, as announced by Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare on Sunday.
Alliance Dynamics and Support Efforts
Tatkare revealed that Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has communicated that his party will not field any candidate against Sunetra Pawar. In a parallel move, NCP executive president Praful Patel is actively engaging with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge to request similar support by refraining from nominating a candidate for the bypoll.
Meanwhile, the Congress party's state unit, led by Harshwardhan Sapkal, has forwarded names to the central leadership to finalize their candidature. Sources indicate that Akash More has been selected as the official nomination from the Congress side.
Appeal to Congress High Command
Speaking at a public event in Solapur on Sunday, Tatkare elaborated on the strategy. "We are going to formally request the Congress high command to not field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar, considering that the other two partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance—Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP)—have already decided to do the same," he stated.
Tatkare emphasized the legacy of the late NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who passed away unexpectedly, urging that Sunetra Pawar be given the opportunity to represent Baramati in his place. He highlighted Ajit Pawar's decades of service to the region, which he believes will resonate with voters.
Confidence in Victory and Campaign Strategy
If a contest becomes unavoidable, Tatkare expressed confidence that Sunetra Pawar will receive overwhelming support from the people of Baramati and secure a record-breaking victory. "Sunetra Pawar will win by a historic margin based on the four-decades-long dedication and service rendered by Ajit Pawar to this constituency," he asserted.
The political landscape will become clearer after the nomination filing deadline ends on Monday. Tatkare added that the NCP will make every effort to persuade any opposing candidates to withdraw from the race, aiming to consolidate support behind Sunetra Pawar.
Historical Context and Electoral Performance
Ajit Pawar had a strong electoral record in Baramati, winning the seat in the 2024 assembly elections by a margin of approximately 1 lakh votes. Prior to that, in 2019, he secured victory with an even larger margin of 1.65 lakh votes, underscoring the constituency's historical allegiance to the Pawar family.
This bypoll is crucial as it tests the cohesion of the MVA alliance and the political succession within the NCP following Ajit Pawar's demise. The outcome will have significant implications for Maharashtra's political dynamics and the future trajectory of the NCP under Sunetra Pawar's leadership.
