Maharashtra by-election: As soon as Congress leaves the field, Sunetra Pawar’s victory in Baramati election is certain without any contest.

Baramati: The by-election on Baramati seat of Maharashtra is going to be completed without any contest. Congress has withdrawn its candidate, after which Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is going to win unopposed. Congress has taken this decision in honor of Sunetra Pawar’s husband and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in January. This step of Congress has once again proved the strong hold of Pawar family in Baramati.

Congress withdrew its candidate

Just before the Baramati by-election to be held on April 23, Congress withdrew the nomination of its candidate Amar More. The last date for withdrawal of nominations was Thursday itself. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the party has taken this decision in respect of Ajit Pawar.

Decision taken in memory of Ajit Pawar

Congress had initially decided to fight an ideological battle by fielding a candidate from Baramati seat. Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the party was worried that the Election Commission was working as the B-team of the BJP. However, later the party changed its stand in respect of Ajit Pawar. Sapkal said that Ajit Pawar had been a part of the Congress-led governments in Maharashtra for the last several years.

Baramati is the stronghold of Pawar family

Baramati seat is considered the stronghold of the Pawar family. Ajit Pawar was representing this seat since 1991. Before him, his uncle Sharad Pawar had been the MLA from here. A month after Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash in January, his wife Sunetra Pawar was made the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. With the unopposed victory of Sunetra Pawar, now both the Baramati Assembly seat and the Lok Sabha seat will remain in the possession of the Pawar family. Supriya Sule is MP from Baramati.

Appeal of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule

Before the Congress’ decision, senior NCP leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, had appealed to the Congress to withdraw from the Baramati by-election. Congress decided to withdraw the candidate in this respect.