Baramati bypoll: Fadnavis backs unopposed win for late Ajit Pawar’s wife, cites convention
He called for a compromise in supporting Sunetra Pawar’s respect for Maharashtra’s political traditions.
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Recalling past examples, Fadnavis referred to the unopposed by-poll held after the death of NCP (undivided) MLA and former state home minister RR Patil. His wife, Suman Patil, was elected from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal assembly constituency following her husband’s death in 2015.
“All parties should take a broad-hearted approach and ensure that the by-election is held unopposed,” Fadnavis told reporters. he said.
The BJP, which heads the Mahayuti alliance, shares power with the NCP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
NCP sources had said that Sunetra Pawar, currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, will file her nomination on April 6 from Baramati assembly segment in Pune district for the by-election to be held on April 23. Ajit Pawar, an eight-time MLA from Baramati’s home state, and four others were killed when a plane carrying them crashed near the Baramati airstrip on January 28.
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In the 2019 assembly elections, Ajit Pawar had won the Baramati seat with the highest margin of 1.65 lakh votes. He retained the seat by defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar in the 2024 polls by a margin of more than 1 lakh.
While Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) said it would not contest the general election to be held in Baramati, its ally Congress said it would not let the elections go unchallenged.
Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as the state’s deputy CM on January 31 and was unanimously elected as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on February 26.
Apart from Baramati, a bypoll is also planned for Rahuri assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district. It was necessary due to the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile.
