Mumbai, March 24 NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said on Tuesday that the party is keen to ensure that the upcoming by-election for the Baramati assembly constituency in Maharashtra is held without any opposition, and will initiate talks with the opposition parties.
The by-elections to Baramati in Pune and Rahuri in Ahilyanagar, necessitated by the deaths of then deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and BJP legislator Shivaji Kardile, respectively, will be held on April 23.
Speaking to reporters, Tatkare said that Deputy Chief Minister would file her nomination from the Baramati seat on April 6.
Tatkare said that he, along with senior leader Praful Patel, will hold discussions with Congress leaders in Delhi and also meet Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
"If required, Praful Patel and I will discuss with senior Congress leaders in Delhi to ensure that the bypoll is held without any opposition. We want this by-election to be held without any opposition, given the unfortunate death of Ajit Pawar," he said.
He further thanked NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule for announcing that her party would not field a candidate, but noted that the Congress had indicated it may contest the election.
NCP stalwart Ajit Pawar (66) was killed in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28 this year.
Earlier, the Congress had dismissed calls to make the upcoming bypolls unopposed, while asserting that elections must be contested. The party's state chief, Harshwardhan Sapkal, had stated that there was no consensus within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on the matter.
