Congress Withdraws Candidate for Sunetra Pawar's Unopposed Baramati Win

In a move signaling political respect and unity, the Congress party withdrew its candidate from the Baramati Assembly bypoll on Thursday, clearing the path for Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to secure an unopposed victory in the Maharashtra constituency. The decision, announced on the final day for nomination withdrawals, comes just two weeks before the April 23 polling date, with votes to be counted on May 4.

The bypoll was triggered by the death of Sunetra Pawar's husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati, his long-time political stronghold. Ajit Pawar, a prominent Nationalist Congress Party leader who had represented the seat eight times, served as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister before his passing. Sunetra Pawar, who assumed the role after his death and was recently elected NCP president, filed her nomination on April 6 as the candidate for the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal confirmed the withdrawal of party nominee Akash More during a press conference in Mumbai. "Ajit Pawar was a tall leader of Maharashtra, and his accidental death has left a deep void in the state's political landscape," Sapkal...