Sunetra Pawar herself has contacted Uddhav Thackeray to discuss working together for the Baramati election. She is likely to officially be on the ballot April 6th for the April 23rd election that’s happening because of Ajit Pawar’s passing, according to those in her party.
Details of the Phone Call and Immediate Responses
She phoned Thackeray on Friday to talk about how their parties would work together during the election. Important people in Shiv Sena (UBT) have confirmed the conversation, and said Thackeray will say something publicly about it after he’s talked things over with others in his party. This shows that the NCP leadership is actively negotiating with the parties that are with them.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have pointed out that Thackeray and the Pawar family have been close for a long time, and so he might be willing to help Sunetra Pawar. But officials in the party have also said that any official decision will be made after they have discussed it thoroughly, showing how politically tricky this situation is and how much people in the area feel because of the recent sad loss.
Positions of Key Parties in the Race
The NCP led by Sharad Pawar has already said they won’t challenge Sunetra Pawar and won’t put up a candidate. This shows how much the Pawar family is respected in Baramati and how they want to make sure all their supporters get behind Sunetra’s attempt to win.
Congress in the state, however, has said they will compete in the election, and the party’s central leadership has approved this. Leaders in Congress have already talked to people who want to be their candidate, demonstrating they are treating this as a standard election even with all the emotion surrounding it.
Calls for an Unopposed Bypoll and Political Culture
Sunil Tatkare, a senior NCP leader, has asked all political parties to think about letting Sunetra Pawar win without a contest, considering how everyone is feeling after Ajit Pawar’s death. Tatkare said this is something they should all do to honor such an experienced political figure and to continue the traditions of politics in the state.
This request for no one to run against Sunetra is in line with what often happens in parliament: after a major leader dies, things are sometimes paused out of respect. Whether the other parties agree to this will show us what their broader plans are and how they balance paying their respects with the chance to win an election in the state.
Election Timeline and Background of the Baramati Seat
The election is on April tth, and Sunetra Pawar is expected to file her papers on April 6th. She became Deputy Chief Minister on January 31st, and then was made the head of her party, making her stronger politically before the election.
Ajit Pawar had been the representative for Baramati eight times, and won by a big margin each time. In 2019, he won by 165,000 votes, and in 2024, a little over 100,000. He died suddenly in a plane crash on January 28th, which has left a huge gap in the election and a lot of grief locally.
Potential Implications for State Alliances and Electoral Strategy
If Shiv Sena (UBT) supports Sunetra Pawar, it could make the opposition parties closer and reduce the chance of the votes that are against the current government being split. If they all work together, they’ll avoid a difficult, emotional fight and could make the cooperation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) stronger in future elections.
But, if Congress really fights this election, it will be a test of how loyal people in the area are and show how much politicians’ plans are more important than their sadness. In the next few days, parties will consider sympathy votes, how many people they can reach, and how valuable Baramati is strategically as they decide what to do.
Sunetra Pawar contacting Uddhav Thackeray shows she’s being sensible: she’s trying to get everyone to agree, but also not closing off any other possibilities. The next week, from when she puts her name forward to when the parties make announcements, will tell us whether the Baramati election will be a way to fondly remember Ajit Pawar, or a normal election battle.
