23 April,2026 01:11 PM IST | Baramati | mid-day online correspondent
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar casts her vote at Katewadi polling booth during the Baramati bypoll on Thursday. PIC/X
Polling for the keenly watched by-elections to the Baramati and Rahuri assembly constituencies in Maharashtra got off to a slow start on Thursday, with moderate voter turnout recorded in the morning hours.
According to election officials, Baramati registered 20.59 per cent voter turnout, while Rahuri recorded 18.22 per cent till 11 am. By 9 am, Baramati had seen around 8.1 per cent polling.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm in both constituencies.
The Baramati assembly seat in Pune district fell vacant after the death of former deputy chief minister (CM) and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28, 2026. His wife, Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, contesting on the NCP ticket, is the main contender along with 22 other candidates.
Riding on a strong sympathy wave, Sunetra Pawar has urged voters to support her as a tribute to her late husband. The constituency has a total of 3.84 lakh registered voters.
Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by Ajit Pawar's younger brother Srinivas Pawar and his wife Sharmila, cast their votes early in the morning at the Katewadi polling booth in Baramati.
Notably, there is no candidate from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against Sunetra Pawar. The rival NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction decided not to field any candidate, while Congress had initially given ticket to Akash More but later withdrew his candidature.
The Rahuri assembly seat in Ahilyanagar district became vacant following the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile in October last year. His son Akshay Kardile is contesting on the BJP ticket against NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Govind Mokate and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi's Santosh Chalke.
Election officials have made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling. Speaking to the media, an official said, "To ensure that the scorching heat does not dampen the spirit of voters, we have installed mandaps (sheds) outside polling booths and placed water coolers for drinking water."
Ajit Pawar had held the Baramati seat - a traditional bastion of the extended Pawar family - for several decades. In the 2024 assembly elections, he had defeated his nephew Yugendra Pawar of the NCP (SP).
In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the ruling Mahayuti alliance commands a massive majority with 235 seats (BJP-132, Shiv Sena-57, NCP-41, allies-5), while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has 50 seats (Shiv Sena UBT-20, Congress-16, NCP SP-10, others-4).
Results of both bypolls are expected to be declared on May 4, 2026.
(With PTI inputs)
