Mumbai/Pune, April 9 – The opposition Congress on Thursday decided not to participate in the by-election to the Baramati assembly seat in Maharashtra at the last minute, effectively handing a victory to the ruling NCP candidate and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, although a contest will still take place as 22 other candidates remain in the fray.
Initially, the Congress appeared firm on contesting the April 23 by-election, necessitated by the death of former Deputy Chief Minister and sitting Baramati MLA Ajit Pawar, Sunetra’s husband. However, the Congress withdrew its candidate following pressure from the ruling alliance of Nationalist Congress Party, BJP, and also its opposition partner NCP (SP).
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal stated that the decision was made to maintain the state's political culture and decorum, citing the death of Ajit Pawar in an air crash just over two months ago.
"The decision was made to maintain the state's political culture and decorum. We are taking two steps back because the by-election is taking place immediately after the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar. Even though Ajit Pawar started his political career with the Congress, he joined hands with the BJP for the sake of power," Sapkal said.
"The Congress is withdrawing from the Baramati by-election, but not supporting any candidate," the MPCC president maintained.
Soon after his announcement, Congress candidate Akash More withdrew his nomination from the high-profile assembly seat in Pune district, a Pawar family stronghold, just before the deadline.
"As per the instructions from the party leadership, I have withdrawn my nomination," More told reporters in Baramati.
Sapkal made it clear that his party’s decision had nothing to do with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a BJP leader, requesting an unopposed election for Sunetra Pawar from the seat, which her husband had won eight times in the past.
The MPCC president said Sunetra Pawar had spoken to him three times over the phone and even met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi to seek the withdrawal of the party candidate.
Sapkal also disclosed that NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde had contacted him requesting the withdrawal of the Congress candidate. Another NCP minister Makrand Patil also made the same request.
Despite the Congress withdrawing, the Baramati assembly seat will still see a contest as 22 other candidates remain in the fray. However, none of them is likely to pose any significant challenge to Sunetra Pawar, whose election from the seat appears a mere formality.
Votes will be counted on May 4.
Sapkal's announcement came soon after AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala said his party would not contest the Baramati assembly by-election.
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