06 April,2026 03:47 PM IST | Pune | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Sunetra Pawar pays tribute at Ajit Pawar’s memorial in Baramati before filing her nomination. PIC/X
Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Sunetra Pawar on Monday filed her nomination papers for the Baramati Assembly bypoll and asserted that the contest has been "taken over by the people of Baramati".
Speaking to reporters after filing the nomination, Sunetra Pawar said that for the local people in the region, Ajit Pawar means Baramati and vice versa.
"Now that bypolls have been necessitated due to the demise of Ajit Pawar, the contest has been taken over by people of Baramati," she added.
Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar paid respects to Ajit Pawar at his memorial in Vidya Pratishthan, Baramati. In an emotional post on X, she described Ajit Pawar as a selfless public leader whose thoughts, work and values continue to inspire her. She said visiting the memorial gave her new energy and strengthened her resolve to walk on the path of public service.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who attended a meeting organised by the NCP in Baramati, extended full support to Sunetra Pawar. Addressing the gathering, Shinde said the bypoll is unfortunate following Ajit Pawar's sudden demise, which shocked the entire state. He appealed to all parties to make the election unopposed as per Maharashtra's tradition.
Shinde added that Sunetra Pawar is efficiently handling the responsibilities of Deputy CM and expressed full confidence that the people of Baramati have not forgotten Ajit Pawar's work and will stand behind her. He also declared that the Shiv Sena, as a Mahayuti partner, will give her complete support.
NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar also appealed to the people of Baramati to elect Sunetra Pawar with a record-breaking majority if the election goes to polls. In a post on X, he said it was the wish of all that the bypoll be unopposed as a tribute to Ajit Dada, but if contested, voters should give Sunetra Pawar a massive victory.
The Baramati bye-election was necessitated following the untimely death of senior NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
