The statement comes a day after Parth Pawar criticised the Congress for fielding a candidate in the Baramati bypoll and suggested that the party would face consequences
Supriya Sule. Pic/X
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday asserted that the Congress has every constitutional right to contest elections and should be treated with respect. Her remarks come amid an ongoing political debate over the Baramati assembly by-election and recent comments made by NCP leader Parth Pawar.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Sule emphasised that contesting elections is a fundamental democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Remarks follow criticism of Parth Pawar’s statement
The statement comes a day after Parth Pawar criticised the Congress for fielding a candidate in the Baramati bypoll and suggested that the party would face consequences. His comments had drawn a rare public rebuke from NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who questioned his political maturity.
Sule, while addressing the issue, maintained that differences should be handled with restraint. She highlighted that within her family, guidance from senior members is respected and discussions are ideally held privately rather than in the public domain.
Congress’ historical role and constitutional rights highlighted
Sule underlined the historical contribution of the Congress, noting its role in the country’s independence movement and its continued participation in national development. She reiterated that the party operates within the constitutional framework established by B. R. Ambedkar and therefore deserves due respect in the political arena.
She also pointed out her own political journey, stating that she has contested elections with the support of the Congress in the past and has been influenced by its ideology.
Baramati bypoll context and political positioning
The Baramati by-election, scheduled for April 23, was necessitated following the death of Ajit Pawar earlier this year. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is contesting the seat.
While several parties, including those in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, refrained from fielding candidates as a mark of respect, the Congress decided to contest by nominating Akash More, adding a new dimension to the political contest.
Invitation to nomination event and campaign stance
Sule also revealed that she and Sharad Pawar had been invited by NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, to attend Sunetra Pawar’s nomination filing in Baramati.
However, Sharad Pawar was unable to attend due to official commitments in Delhi, while Sule did not elaborate on her own absence. She also refrained from giving a clear response on whether she would participate in the bypoll campaign.
Her remarks underline the importance of maintaining political decorum and respecting democratic principles, even as electoral competition intensifies in Baramati.
(With inputs from PTI)
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