Sharad Pawar said that since the bypoll is being held in the backdrop of the tragic plane crash that claimed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s life, he would advise the Congress not to be a part of the contest.
“Congress is a national party, and we cannot direct it to withdraw its candidate. However, the Baramati seat fell vacant due to a tragic accident that snatched away an efficient leader from Maharashtra.
“If asked, I would suggest to Congress it would be appropriate to make this bypoll unopposed,” Pawar told reporters in Baramati.
He added that the final decision rests with Congress.
Ajit Pawar’s wife and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has filed her nomination from the Baramati seat. However, amid efforts to ensure an unopposed contest, the Congress has fielded advocate Akash More for the April 23 bypoll.
NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule also made a similar appeal to the Congress.”Ajitdada had earlier worked shoulder to shoulder with the Indian National Congress, and he always maintained cordial relations with your party. An uncontested election in Baramati would serve as a true tribute to him.
“Therefore, I humbly appeal to the Congress party to kindly withdraw its candidate and help ensure that this election is held unopposed,” Sule said, appealing to the Congress.
Earlier in the day, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, met Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal, urging the party to withdraw its candidate to facilitate the unopposed election of his aunt Sunetra Pawar.
“I am confident the Congress will take an appropriate and positive decision after speaking to its leadership,” he said.
A day earlier, Sunetra Pawar had spoken to Sapkal to request him to ensure that his party’s candidate withdraws his nomination against her in the bypoll, according to sources.
The Congress had said that it would withdraw from the contest only if an FIR were registered in deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash in January, which necessitated the Baramati bye election.
However, the run-up to the bypoll turned acrimonious after Parth Pawar, son of Sunetra Pawar, recently criticised the Congress for fielding a candidate and predicted the party’s “downfall”.
Rohit Pawar told reporters on Thursday that he had expressed regret over his cousin Parth Pawar’s remarks.
The NCP (SP) leader said the Congress has given the right message that justice should be delivered in the plane crash and that an FIR be registered in Maharashtra.
“I hope Sunetra Pawar, who is in Delhi today, will meet Union minister Amit Shah and seek a CBI probe into the case,” said Rohit Pawar, who has repeatedly demanded a high-level investigation into the Baramati crash.
The NCP (SP) has announced that it would not field any candidate against Sunetra Pawar.
Altogether, 55 candidates have filed nominations. The last date for withdrawal is April 9.
