In a rare display of family and political restraint, NCP (SP) Working President Supriya Sule announced on Monday (March 16) , that her party will not field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar in the upcoming Baramati assembly bypoll. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Sule clarified that the decision was made out of respect for her sister-in-law (Vahini), following the tragic death of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. The byelection, scheduled for April 23, was involved by the sudden vacancy in the seat, and Sule’s move aims to avoid a direct confrontation within the Pawar family during a period of mourning and transition.
A Shift in the Baramati Power Dynamic
The Baramati constituency has recently seen intense political activity. In the 2024 general elections, Supriya Sule successfully defended her Lok Sabha seat against Sunetra Pawar. However, the political landscape shifted tragically on January 28, 2026, when Ajit Pawar and four others died in a plane crash near the Baramati airstrip. Following the accident, Sunetra Pawar, already a Rajya Sabha member, was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister and President of the NCP.
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While Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the BJP is prepared for a contest if necessary, he emphasised that efforts are being made to ensure the bypolls in Baramati and Rahuri are held unopposed through consensus. Sule echoed this sentiment regarding Baramati, though she noted that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners are still deliberating on the Rahuri seat, previously held by the late BJP legislator Shivaji Kardile.
LPG Crisis
Turning to national concerns, the Baramati MP raised alarms regarding the LPG crisis exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. She criticised the Centre for downplaying the shortage and urged an all-party meeting to protect industries, particularly the hotel sector, from geopolitical volatility. “Why are there attempts to keep it under the carpet?” she questioned, calling for a comprehensive parliamentary discussion and a robust action plan to tackle the rising fuel instability.
(With Inputs From PTI)
