Mumbai: The Congress on Sunday picked its state unit secretary Akash More against Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar for the Baramati assembly bypoll, a move indicating a rift in the opposition over fielding a candidate in a contest necessitated by Ajit Pawar’s death.
While the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) had announced it won’t field a candidate against Sunetra as a mark of respect for her deceased husband, another Maha Vikas Aghadi member, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has also indicated its support for an unopposed election.
Notably, the Congress announced the name of More hours after Sunetra Pawar dialled state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal and urged him to ensure an unopposed bypoll. More is the son of former party MLC Vijayrao More and belongs to the Dhangar community, Congress leaders said.
Currently a Rajya Sabha member, Sunetra Pawar will file her nominations for the bypoll, scheduled for April 23, on Monday.
A day earlier, Sunetra Pawar had sought Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s support in the April 23 byelection, which was necessitated due to the death of her husband and then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January. Votes will be counted on May 4.
Meanwhile, sources in Congress also indicated that the party is willing to contest the upcoming bypoll to the Rahuri assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district if its ally, NCP (SP), decides not to contest.
The Rahuri seat fell vacant after the death of BJP legislator Shivaji Kardile.
