Baramati bypolls | 'Will strive to carry forward Ajit's legacy': Sunetra Pawar files nomination

Mumbai: Invoking the legacy of Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP national president Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination on Monday for the Baramati bypolls.

The contest gained national prominence when the Congress fielded Akash More against her, breaking ranks with the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Even as political temperatures rise, efforts are underway at multiple levels to persuade the Congress to withdraw More’s candidature and facilitate an unopposed election as a tribute to the late Ajit Pawar, popularly known as Ajit Dada, an eight-time MLA and six-time Deputy Chief Minister.

The bustling tehsil town of Baramati in Pune district has long been the Pawar family's political bastion.

Ajit Pawar (66) died in a plane crash on January 28 while a Learjet business jet was attempting to land at the Baramati airfield, necessitating the by-election.

“It has been two months since Ajit Dada left us, but I feel he is still with us. I will strive to carry forward his legacy through hard work. Every breath of Ajit Dada was for Baramati, and he took his last breath here,” Sunetra Pawar said, her voice choking with emotion.

Before filing her nomination, she, accompanied by her sons Parth, a Rajya Sabha member, and Jay, visited a Hanuman temple and later paid floral tributes at the site of Ajit Pawar’s last rites at the Vidya Pratishthan complex. She also paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

During the filing of nomination papers, she was accompanied by her sons, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, senior BJP leader and state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, NCP national president Praful Patel, Maharashtra unit president and Baramati MP Sunil Tatkare, and senior NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, among others.

Tatkare said that if an election is held, the people of Baramati should ensure a historic mandate. “She must win by a margin higher than any ever seen in a state Assembly election in the country,” he said, urging her to follow Ajit Pawar’s tradition of addressing voters only at the final rally on the last day of campaigning.

Meanwhile, NCP leader and Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne met OBC leader Laxman Hake in Baramati, urging him not to contest the bypoll. Hake had earlier announced his intention to enter the fray.

On the other hand, Akash More also filed his nomination in the presence of senior leaders, including state Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal. More, son of former MLC Vijayrao More, belongs to the Dhangar community.

Congress slams BJP, keeps withdrawal option open

Slamming the BJP, the Congress said it would consider withdrawing its candidate from Baramati if an FIR is registered in connection with the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar.

“There is confusion being created over Congress fielding Akash More. Was there no election after the death of Vasantrao Chavan in Nanded? Was there no election after the death of Bharat Bhalke in Mangalvedha? There are several such instances where the BJP has contested by-elections,” state Congress spokesperson and general secretary Atul Lodhe said.

Referring to the crash, he added: “The family has demanded a probe, while Sunetra Pawar has sought a CBI inquiry. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar made repeated attempts to get an FIR registered in Maharashtra but succeeded only in Karnataka. If an FIR is registered in the case, we will consider withdrawal.”

NCP (SP) seeks record mandate for Sunetra Pawar

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar appealed to voters to elect Sunetra Pawar with a record margin.

“Sunetra Kaki is filing her nomination for the Baramati by-election today. It is the collective wish that the election be uncontested. We urge other candidates and parties to facilitate this. However, if a contest becomes inevitable, I appeal to the people of Baramati to ensure a record-breaking victory, treating this as if Ajit Dada himself is contesting,” he said in a post on X.