The Congress party has decided to withdraw its candidate from the upcoming Baramati Assembly bypoll, clearing the way for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to contest unopposed, according to verified reports and official statements.
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. Polling is scheduled for April 23, 2026, with the deadline for withdrawal of nominations falling on April 9.
Earlier, Congress had faced intense pressure from its alliance partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), to step aside to allow an unopposed win for Sunetra Pawar. Senior NCP leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Rohit Pawar, had publicly appealed to Congress to withdraw its candidate to avoid a contested election in the Baramati stronghold.
The Congress initially held firm, with its nominee Akash More remaining in the race. Reports suggested the party had set conditions for withdrawal, including demands for an FIR to be registered in connection with Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, though no formal agreement had been reached with state authorities at that time.
The decision to withdraw comes after widespread backlash and negotiations within the alliance, ensuring that Sunetra Pawar now faces a smoother path in the bypoll. The Congress’s move is also aimed at maintaining alliances and political goodwill in the region.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier appealed to Congress to respect public sentiment and facilitate an uncontested election for Sunetra Pawar, highlighting the delicate political balance in the constituency following Ajit Pawar’s death.
With the withdrawal now confirmed on April 9, 2026, the Baramati bypoll is expected to proceed with significantly reduced contestation, stabilizing the political scenario and paving the way for a seamless electoral process in one of Maharashtra’s high-profile constituencies.