New Delhi: The death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January has led to the election of the Baramati Assembly seat. In this situation, there seems to be another faultline in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as the political arena of Maharashtra heats. The byelections in both constituencies will be held on April 23 and the results will be announced on May 4.
Sharad Pawar’s NCP is not going to field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife. She is currently NCP’s president and the Deputy Chief Minister. Meanwhile, UddhavThackeray’s Shiv Sena is probably not to field a candidate out of respect for Ajit Pawar.
Congress to contest
However, the Congress has reportedly hinted that it will field candidates from Baramati and also from Rahuri, triggered by BJP MLA Shivajirao Kardile’s death, according to a report by NDTV. The NCP of Sharad Pawar have been advised by local leaders against contesting from the seat.
Sunetra Pawar recently visited Delhi, consolidating her candidature and there is a speculation of NCP factions reuniting. Sharad Pawar’s NCP is displeased by Congress’s decision to contest Baramati, and they perceive it as a break from alliance understanding in the sensitive seat. If the opposition remains divided, it will be facing the risks of diluting the larger anti-BJP narrative in the national front.vNCP (SP) state President Shashikant Shinde, “The two places are traditional bastions of NCP (SP). We decided to not contest from those two seats. We’ll discuss this with the Congress.”