Mumbai, April 9 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday and requested him to withdraw the party's candidate from the Baramati by-election.
Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Sunetra Pawar is contesting the Baramati assembly by-election as a candidate of the ruling Mahayuti. The death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash on January 28, necessitated the election.
Congress has fielded Akash More for the by-election.
Sources said CM Fadnavis called Sapkal and sought his support for an unopposed election of Sunetra Pawar.
The by-election is scheduled to be held on April 23, and Thursday is the last day for withdrawing nominations.
Ajit Pawar had represented the Baramati assembly constituency, the Pawar family's stronghold, eight times.