Voting for the Baramati Assembly by-election began on Thursday, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and MahaYuti candidate Sunetra Pawar casting her vote early in the day and appealing to voters to remember the legacy of her late husband.
The bypoll comes in the shadow of a personal and political loss for the region, following the death of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati airport in January. The contest has effectively turned into a test of legacy and continuity, with Sunetra Pawar stepping into active politics soon after taking oath as Deputy CM.
Sunetra Pawar voted at the Gangubai Kante Zilla Parishad Primary School polling booth in Baramati. After casting her vote, she told reporters, “People of Baramati know that Dada (Ajit Pawar) has done so much for so many years. And they know they can repay him by voting in today’s election. Today is an important day for voting.”
Ahead of polling, she visited Ajit Pawar’s memorial to pay her respects. Their son, Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar, also visited the site to honour his father.
Why Baramati by-election was necessitated
The election was triggered after Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise earlier this year. His passing not only left a leadership vacuum in Baramati but also reshaped the political contest, with his wife entering the fray against a field of 23 candidates. The NCP (SP) and Congress have withdrawn from the race.
Campaign marked by emotion and legacy pitch
In the days leading up to polling, Sunetra Pawar’s campaign leaned heavily on emotion and continuity. Addressing a large gathering earlier this week, she had broken down while recalling her husband, pledging to carry forward his vision for Baramati.
She said she had taken up this “Gordian knot” to fulfil Ajit Pawar’s dream and had “locked her grief in a cellar” to serve the people. She also described the support she received as a collective endorsement of Baramati’s development path.
Positioning herself as a “servant of the people”, she credited the region’s growth to Sharad Pawar’s foresight and Ajit Pawar’s execution.
“This ground has a tradition of struggle and unity; it is the same venue where Ajit Pawar was once accorded a civic reception. This sea of people is a testament to the respect and love Baramati holds for him,” she said.
She also underlined her personal connection with the constituency, saying, “I am standing here not just as a candidate, but to preserve the lifelong bond we share with Baramati. Baramati is my strength, and you are all my family.”
Calling Baramati her husband’s “breath”, she said every voter was like “Pandurang” to him. She ended her appeal by recalling his belief that every election must be fought with seriousness.