Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday said no leader from the BJP has approached it to seek withdrawal of its candidate’s nomination for the Baramati assembly bypoll, terming the claims as “false, misleading and baseless”.
The party said in a statement that reports suggesting any communication between the BJP and the Congress on the issue were “incorrect and devoid of facts”.
Alleging a deliberate attempt to create confusion, the Congress claimed that such misinformation was being spread by the BJP to mislead its ally NCP.
The Baramati assembly seat fell vacant after the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. Polling is scheduled for April 23, and votes will be counted on May 4.
Late Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, who became the deputy chief minister and was also elected as the NCP president following his death, will be contesting as a candidate of the ruling Mahayuti.
While two opposition parties – NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) – have not fielded candidates as a mark of respect to the memory of Ajit Pawar, the Congress chose Akash More as its nominee.
The last date of withdrawal of nomination is April 9.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expressed hope that the Congress party will honour “public sentiment” and ensure an unopposed election in Baramati by withdrawing its candidate against Sunetra Pawar. However, the grand old party reacted sharply, saying the CM’s remarks reflect the “height of hypocrisy”.
The Congress has maintained that it will consider withdrawing from the poll fray if a first information report (FIR) is registered in the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar. PTI MR NP
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