Baramati Votes in Shadow of Loss as Sunetra Pawar Casts Ballot
Baramati, 7th February 2026: Baramati witnessed a subdued yet resolute polling day as voters balanced personal sorrow with civic commitment during the Pune Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections on Saturday.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by her son Parth Pawar, exercised her right to vote at a Zilla Parishad school in Katewadi village. The visit carried emotional weight, coming just days after the untimely demise of senior leader Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash, an event that has deeply affected the region.
After casting her vote, Pawar encouraged citizens to take part in the democratic process, stressing that participation in elections plays a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future. She urged voters to turn out in significant numbers and uphold their civic duty.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission had initially scheduled the local body elections for February 5. However, in the wake of Ajit Pawar’s death on January 28, the polls were postponed to February 7. The decision lent a poignant tone to the elections, particularly in Baramati and nearby areas where the Pawar family maintains longstanding political ties.
Across Pune district, polling is underway in 13 talukas, with a total electorate of 29.72 lakh voters. This includes 15.22 lakh male voters, 14.50 lakh female voters, and 91 transgender voters, highlighting the district’s diverse demographic participation.
The Zilla Parishad elections have attracted 299 candidates, of whom 164 are men and 135 are women.
Indapur taluka stands out with the highest number of candidates — 41 in total — including a notable 31 women and 10 men, reflecting strong female representation. In contrast, Velhe taluka has the smallest candidate pool, with just eight contestants and no female candidates in the fray.
