Elections – Congress Signals Conditional Exit from Baramati Bypoll Amid FIR Demand
Elections – The Maharashtra Congress on Monday indicated that it may reconsider its participation in the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election if a formal police case is registered in connection with the plane crash that claimed the life of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Congress Questions Calls for Unopposed Election
Responding to suggestions that the April 23 bypoll should proceed without contest, state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe dismissed the idea and alleged that such demands reflect selective political convenience. He argued that there is no binding convention requiring by-elections to remain uncontested following the death of a sitting legislator.
The bypoll was necessitated after Ajit Pawar, a senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and then deputy chief minister, died in a plane crash on January 28 in his home constituency. Known for his strong electoral record, Pawar had represented Baramati eight times, often winning by significant margins.
Congress Fields Candidate Despite Opposition Support
While factions such as the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) have expressed support for an uncontested election, the Congress has taken a different stance. The party has nominated its state unit secretary, Akash More, to contest against Sunetra Pawar, who currently serves as deputy chief minister.
Londhe reiterated that the Congress believes in offering voters a democratic choice, especially in a politically significant constituency like Baramati. However, he also made it clear that the party’s position could change depending on developments in the investigation into the crash.
Demand for FIR and Investigation Gains Focus
The Congress leader emphasized that both the party and its candidate would review their participation if an FIR is registered in Baramati regarding the incident. He highlighted concerns raised by the Pawar family about the circumstances surrounding the crash and noted that there have been calls for a thorough investigation.
Sunetra Pawar has already sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, while other leaders have also pushed for clarity on the matter. Londhe pointed out that despite repeated efforts by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar to have a case registered in Maharashtra, success was only achieved in Karnataka.
Questions Raised Over Consistency in Political Practice
Londhe further argued that the push for an uncontested bypoll lacks consistency when compared with past examples. He cited previous by-elections held after the deaths of sitting legislators in constituencies such as Nanded and Mangalwedha, where contests were not avoided.
According to him, these precedents demonstrate that political parties have not uniformly followed a practice of stepping aside in such situations. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of applying different standards depending on political advantage, calling the approach inconsistent.
Political Stakes Remain High in Baramati
The Baramati constituency has long been considered a stronghold of the Pawar family, making the by-election a closely watched political event in Maharashtra. The outcome is expected to have implications not only for regional dynamics but also for alliances and rivalries within the state.
As the election date approaches, the Congress appears to be balancing its commitment to electoral participation with its demand for transparency in the investigation. The possibility of withdrawal, tied to the registration of an FIR, adds a new dimension to the evolving political narrative.
For now, the party has maintained its candidate in the fray, while keeping the option open to reassess its position based on legal and investigative developments.