Pune, Apr 23 (PTI) Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Sunetra Pawar, contesting the Baramati assembly seat bypoll, cast her vote on Thursday and appealed to electors to turn out in large numbers and support her as a tribute to her late husband Ajit Pawar.
The byelection to the seat located in Pune district was necessitated by the death of then Deputy CM and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. A total of 23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar, are in the fray.
“People of Baramati are coming in big numbers to cast their votes. I would not say it is out of enthusiasm, but they are stepping out to fulfil their duty. By doing so, they are paying tribute to Dada (as Ajit Pawar was fondly called),” Sunetra Pawar told reporters.
She noted that the by-election is being held in an emotional atmosphere.
“For the past 60 years, the people of Baramati have supported the Pawar family. This bypoll is taking place in the absence of Ajit Dada, and while casting their votes, people are paying their respects to him,” she added.
Ajit Pawar’s 89-year-old mother exercised her franchise at home, the deputy CM said.
Before casting her vote, Sunetra Pawar paid tributes to Ajit Pawar on the premises of Vidya Prathishthan College in Baramati where his last rites were held.
Asked about Ajit Pawar’s uncle, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, not being able to cast his vote, Sunetra Pawar said she enquired about his well-being.
Sharad Pawar, in a social media post, rued that as he is unwell and hospitalised, he would not be able to cast his vote in Baramati.
The 85-year-old former Union minister was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai a few says days ago for a health check-up.
Parth Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar, also cast his vote in the morning at the Katewadi polling station in Baramati.
Ajit Pawar’s younger son, Jay Pawar, also appealed to people to come out in large numbers to vote as a mark of respect to the late NCP leader.
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) decided not to field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar. While ally Congress gave candidature to Akash More, the party later decided to withdraw his name.
After her husband’s death, Sunetra Pawar replaced him as deputy chief minister in the Mahayuti alliance government on January 31.
According to constitutional provisions, she will have to become a member of one of the two houses of the state legislature – assembly or council – within six months of taking oath. PTI SPK GK
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