Sunetra Pawar dials Shiv Sena (UBT) for Baramati bypoll backing

MUMBAI: Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar has dialled Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to seek his support for winning the Baramati assembly byelection unopposed, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar.

Congress staked its claim to the Pawar family's traditional Baramati seat, with the party's state chief, Harshwardhan Sapkal, holding online interviews with aspirants for the seat over the past few days.

The Baramati bypoll has once again exposed cracks in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as Congress announced its intent to fight the bypoll, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) said it won't field any candidate against Sunetra. The Sena (UBT)'s stand is set to be crucial if the elections are to happen unopposed.




Deputy CM and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar has approached the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for his party's support in the upcoming Baramati by-poll. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Sunetra's husband Ajit Pawar, who was the deputy chief minister at the time, in a plane crash on Jan 28.

"DCM Sunetra Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray spoke over the phone yesterday. They discussed the Baramati byelection. This contest has drawn everyone's attention. What happened in that discussion and what the party decides will soon be communicated by the party chief himself," said Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut. "Ajit Pawar was a trusted and close associate of Uddhav Thackeray. So I think Uddhav Thackeray will talk to us (regarding the unopposed byelection). Sunetra Pawar's party is not in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. It is with the BJP. If Congress makes a different decision, we should examine it as MVA. But Uddhav and Ajit Pawar had an emotional bond...," Raut said.

Raut said he does not know if Sunetra Pawar discussed the issue of an unopposed election with the Congress. "But the BJP has fielded candidates in many byelections. Ajit Pawar had fielded Nana Kate against Ashwini Jagtap in Pune too," Raut said.

Sapkal said, "We have received six applications for Baramati and four for the Rahuri seat so far. If NCP (SP) is not contesting these seats, our party will, and we are firm about it."

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said all parties must support Sunetra Pawar's candidature. He said that when NCP's RR Patil passed away, the BJP had decided not to contest the 2015 by-poll, facilitating an unopposed election.

"I think all parties should support Sunetra Pawar. If this by-election is held unopposed, Maharashtra will be in a favourable position. Maharashtra has held unopposed by-elections many times before. All parties should be brave and hold this election unopposed," Fadnavis said.

Meanwhile Congress's decision to contest both the Baramati and Rahuri bypolls has prompted senior members of Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) to huddle for internal discussions to finalise a candidate for the Rahuri seat. In Baramati, Jay Pawar, the younger son of late Ajit Pawar, has stepped up to steer the campaign for his mother, Sunetra Pawar. Responding to Congress's decision, Jay said party seniors would hold talks with the Congress leadership, but said even if Congress chooses to proceed, NCP would not object.

Sunetra will file her nomination for the Baramati bypoll on Monday, the final day for submitting nominations.

(With inputs from Anurag Bende in Pune)