Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Monday filed her nomination for the upcoming by-election in Baramati and appealed to opposition parties to allow her to be elected unopposed.

Representing the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pawar said efforts were underway to reach out to Mallikarjun Kharge to seek Congress support for an uncontested election. She suggested that the Congress candidate, Akash Vijayrao More, withdraw from the race.

Describing the contest as emotionally difficult, Pawar said the bypoll was not merely a personal political battle but one concerning the people of Baramati.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel confirmed that attempts had been made over the past few days to contact Kharge regarding the request. He added that a message had already been conveyed through official channels.

Several leaders from the ruling alliance echoed the appeal. Maharashtra ministers including Aditi Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule supported the demand for an uncontested election, arguing that such a move would respect political sensitivities surrounding the bypoll.

However, Congress leader Nana Patole questioned the appeal, stating that while the Congress had historically upheld the practice of uncontested elections in certain circumstances—such as after the death of leaders—it was the BJP that had previously broken this convention.

The by-election follows the death of senior leader Ajit Pawar earlier this year. Paying tribute, Sunetra Pawar described his passing as a profound loss not only for Baramati but for the entire state and country. She pledged to carry forward his developmental vision for the constituency.

Invoking the legacy of Sharad Pawar, she assured voters that ongoing development work in Baramati would continue uninterrupted, with particular focus on farmers’ welfare, law and order, and completion of pending projects.

Meanwhile, the Congress has officially fielded Akash Vijayrao More, a Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee office-bearer, as its candidate for the seat.

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According to the Election Commission of India, polling for the Baramati and Rahuri assembly by-elections will be held on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.