Mumbai, April 8 The Maharashtra Congress said on Wednesday that no leader from the BJP has approached it to seek the withdrawal of its candidate's nomination for the Baramati assembly by-election, calling the claims "false, misleading, and baseless."
The party said in a statement that reports suggesting any communication between the BJP and the Congress on the issue were "incorrect and lacking factual basis."
Alleging a deliberate attempt to create confusion, the Congress claimed that the BJP was spreading misinformation to mislead its ally, the NCP.
The Baramati assembly seat fell vacant after the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. Polling is scheduled for April 23, and votes will be counted on May 4.
Late Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, who became the deputy chief minister and was also elected as the NCP president following his death, will be contesting as a candidate of the ruling Mahayuti.
While two opposition parties – NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) – have not fielded candidates as a mark of respect to the memory of Ajit Pawar, the Congress chose Akash More as its nominee.
The last date for withdrawing nominations is April 9.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expressed hope that the Congress party would honour "public sentiment" and ensure an unopposed election in Baramati by withdrawing its candidate against Sunetra Pawar. However, the ruling party reacted strongly, saying the CM's remarks reflected the "height of hypocrisy."
The Congress has maintained that it will consider withdrawing from the poll fray if a first information report (FIR) is registered in the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar.
