Pune: Congress Exit Fails to Ensure Unopposed Win for Sunetra Pawar; 23 Candidates Still in Baramati Race

Pune, 9th April 2026: Even as the Congress candidate withdrew his nomination on Thursday, the last day for withdrawals ahead of the April 23 election, the Baramati Assembly bypoll will still witness a contest.

According to data released by the Election Commission, a total of 24 candidates pulled out of the race on Thursday, including Congress nominee Akash More. Despite this, 23 candidates — including deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar — continue to remain in the fray, ruling out the possibility of an unopposed election.

Efforts by the NCP and its Mahayuti allies to secure an uncontested victory for Pawar thus fell short. Voters in the constituency will now choose from among the remaining candidates on April 23. The counting is scheduled for May 4.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, who was subsequently sworn in as deputy chief minister, is contesting from Baramati assembly constituency for the first time, a constituency long associated with the Pawar family.

Baramati has traditionally been a stronghold of the family, having been represented by Ajit Pawar for several years and earlier by his uncle Sharad Pawar in the state assembly.

Earlier in the day, Sharad Pawar and MP Supriya Sule had appealed to the Congress to withdraw its candidate to facilitate an unopposed election. However, with multiple candidates still in the race despite the withdrawal, the bypoll is now set to be a contested one.