Baramati Bypoll Turns Contested as Congress Enters Race

A key political development has unfolded in Maharashtra as the Indian National Congress has decided to contest the Baramati by-election. The party on Sunday announced Akash Vishwanath More as its candidate, ending the possibility of an uncontested election. The bypoll, scheduled for April 23, will now witness a direct contest between More and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party.

The by-election was necessitated following the demise of senior leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. Sunetra Pawar had appealed to all parties for an uncontested election as a mark of respect to Ajit Pawar. While factions like the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and appeals were made to Uddhav Thackeray for support, Congress rejected the request and entered the fray, turning the bypoll into a competitive political battle.