New Delhi: The election dates for the bypoll election for Baramati were announced today by the Election Commission of India, following the death of NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Voting for the assembly seat will take place on April 23.
The Nationalist Congress Party has already named Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar as its candidate for the by-election. She had taken over as deputy chief minister after Ajit Pawar’s passing and the party has now decided to field her from the Baramati constituency.
Other than Baramati, Rahuri assembly segment in Maharashtra will also see a bypoll on the same date following the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile. The results for both constituencies will be out on May 4.
The Election Commission announced the dates in a press conference in New Delhi for elections in four states- Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Sunetra Pawar steps into Baramati contest
Ajit Pawar who won from the constituency a record eight times, died in a plane crash on January 28. Following his death, the NCP decided to field his wife, Sunetra Pawar, for the by-election. At present, she is neither a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) nor a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). As per constitutional rule, she must secure a seat in the state legislative within six months of taking the oath as deputy chief minister.
There is a possibility that Sunetra Pawar could be elected unopposed. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has reportedly allotted the Baramati seat to the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and the party may decide not to field a candidate against her.
At the same time, the Suneta-led NCP has finalised the nomination of her son Parth Pawar to the Rajya Sabha. He is expected to replace his mother in the Upper House once she vacates her seat to contest the assembly bypoll. Sunetra Pawar was also recently elected unanimously as the NCP’s national president, gradually stepping into the roles previously handled by her late husband.