Pune: Election Commission announces bypoll elections for Baramati and Rahuri assembly seats, polling on April 23

Pune, 15th March 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced by-elections for Baramati and Rahuri assembly constituencies of Maharashtra. The election to these two constituencies will take place on April 23 along with other six assembly constituencies across six states.

The Baramati assembly seat fell vacant after the demise of Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, who became Deputy CM replacing him in the state is likely to contest the election.

With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in the Rahuri and Baramati constituencies. The Election Commission has also made it mandatory for candidates and political parties to publicise information about candidates with criminal backgrounds at least three times during the campaign period.

As per the election programme, the gazette notification for the polls will be issued on March 30, 2026. The last date for filing nomination papers is April 6, while scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 7.

Candidates can withdraw their nominations until April 9. After the completion of polling on April 23, the counting of votes will be held on May 4 and the results will be declared the same day. The entire election process will be completed by May 6.

The Election Commission has directed all authorities concerned to make necessary preparations for the by-elections and ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct.

The ECI said voting in the by-elections will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) along with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems at all polling stations.