Mumbai, Apr 21 (PTI) NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he will not be able to cast his vote in the April 23 Baramati assembly bypoll due to ill health, and appealed to voters to support Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who is in the fray from the ruling Mahayuti.
In a statement, Pawar said it was with a “heavy heart” that he had to take a decision of staying away from voting in Baramati this time as doctors have advised him against travelling outside Mumbai due to “sudden deterioration” in his health.
Pawar, 85, was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai two days ago for a health check-up, sources said on Tuesday.
The bypoll, necessitated due to the demise of Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28, will be held on April 23, and the results will be declared on May 4.
There is no candidate in the fray from opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against Sunetra Pawar, who heads the ruling NCP.
The rival NCP (SP) had announced that it will not field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar. While ally Congress gave candidature to Akash More, the party later decided to withdraw his name. There are a total of 23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar, in the fray.
Sharad Pawar said he had planned to travel to Baramati to cast his vote as per his long-standing practice, but had to be admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after his health deteriorated.
Doctors have advised him against travelling out of the city, he added.
“I have exercised my right to vote in the Baramati constituency continuously since 1967. This time, too, I had decided to come to Baramati and vote as per tradition. However, due to a sudden deterioration in my health, I had to be admitted to a hospital in Mumbai. Doctors have strictly advised me not to travel outside the city,” he said.
“Due to this unavoidable situation, I will not be able to cast my vote. I wish to express this with a deeply saddened and heavy heart,” he added.
Pawar said his party has extended support to Sunetra Pawar in the bypoll.
“This is, in a way, a tribute from our party to the late Ajit Pawar. I appeal to all voters in Baramati to vote for Sunetra Ajit Pawar and pay tribute to him,” the former Union minister said.
Pawar also said he had explored alternative options with election authorities to cast his vote, but was informed that no such provisions were available.
“I also inquired with election authorities about alternative options to cast my vote without being physically present. However, I was informed that no such options are available. With a heavy heart, I have had to take the decision to stay away from voting,” he said. PTI MR NP
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