Maharashtra: Who is responsible for Baramati by-election not being unopposed? What did Supriya Sule tell?
Solapur: In Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP—Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule has held the Ajit Pawar faction responsible for the large crowd of candidates contesting the upcoming Baramati by-election, scheduled for April 23.
She stated that instead of questioning her, leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction should be asked why the election is not proceeding unopposed. Supriya Sule was speaking to the media during her visit to the temple town of Pandharpur recently. She mentioned that she had prayed for peace, prosperity, and happiness for the farmers of Maharashtra.
Speaking about the by-election, Supriya Sule confirmed that she would travel to Baramati to cast her vote as a constituent. She also noted that if approached by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, she would be willing to campaign, adding, "Relationships matter, too."
Power and Money Are Temporary
She emphasized that while power and money are temporary, it is family and people who truly stand by you during difficult times. Sule reiterated her support for Sunetra Pawar in the Baramati by-election.
It is noteworthy that this by-election became necessary following the passing of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, is contesting the election as the 'Mahayuti' candidate representing the Ajit Pawar faction.
Major opposition parties—such as the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction)—have refrained from fielding candidates against her, doing so to express their sympathy and solidarity.
Congress also withdrew its candidate, Akash More, from the Baramati Assembly by-election on Thursday.
23 other candidates remain in the fray
Although the Congress candidate has withdrawn from the Baramati by-election, 23 candidates still remain in the electoral fray. Consequently, this election will not be uncontested. A total of 53 candidates had filed their nominations for this seat. On Thursday—the final day for the withdrawal of nominations—30 candidates, including the Congress nominee, withdrew their names. Thus the Baramati by-election will not be an unopposed contest.