Pune: Expressing disagreement with its MVA partner NCP(SP) over its decision not to field a candidate against deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar in the upcoming Baramati bypoll, Congress state presidentHarshwardhan Sapkal said his party is not in favour of allowing bypolls to go unopposed.The Baramati assembly seat fell vacant following the death of then-deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Jan 28 this year. The Rahuri seat became vacant after BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile passed away on Oct 17 last year. The Election Commission has scheduled bypolls for both the constituencies on April 23.While the NCP has confirmed Sunetra Pawar as its candidate for the Baramati seat, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule recently announced that her party would not field a candidate against her. Sule expressed hope that other political parties would follow suit to ensure an unopposed election.“Ajit Pawar’s death is deeply unfortunate, and our prayers are with his family. However, there is no established tradition of ensuring unopposed elections in Maharashtra,” Sapkal said.Citing past instances where the BJP contested against Congress during similar periods of mourning, Sapkal noted, “When our sitting MP from Nanded, Vasant Chavan, passed away, the BJP fielded a candidate against his son in the 2024 bypoll. We will hold a meeting with our MVA partners to discuss our strategy for the Baramati and Rahuri seats before taking a final decision.”Cabinet minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule has appealed to Sapkal to support a consensus for unopposed elections at both seats. “I am ready to meet Sapkal personally to convince him. I am appealing to all parties to refrain from fielding candidates for these two seats as a mark of respect,” Bawankule said.
