The Congress party had taken a firm stand to contest the Baramati Assembly by-election, and there was strong enthusiasm among party workers. It was on this basis that a candidate was fielded. However, keeping in mind Maharashtra’s political traditions, culture, and civility, and respecting the requests made by all, the party has withdrawn its candidate as a mark of tribute to the late leader Ajit Pawar.
Clarifying that withdrawing the Congress candidate from Baramati is not the end but a new beginning, State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that just as soldiers fight to protect the nation’s borders, Congress workers are fighting to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.
Sapkal visited the Baramati Congress office today, where he met and congratulated the party’s candidate Advocate Akash More—who had withdrawn from the by-election—as well as other aspirants, office bearers, and workers.
On the occasion, Pune Rural District President Shrirang Chavan, District Working President Lahu Anna Nivangane, Baramati City President Ashok Ingule, General Secretary Rahul Wable, Kamalakar Satav, Govind Mirge, Youth Congress State Secretary Veer Dhaval Gade, along with several key office bearers, taluka presidents, and party workers from Pune district, were present in large numbers.
Addressing those present, Sapkal further said that when the Congress decided to contest the Baramati election, it faced criticism at multiple levels. There was even mockery about whether the party would find a candidate in Baramati. However, six candidates from Baramati had expressed willingness to contest, out of which Akash More was given the nomination. The aim was to take Congress's ideology and the party’s symbol to every household. The workers in Baramati have demonstrated that the Congress ideology remains strong even in adverse circumstances.
The Congress party has maintained that a case should be registered to investigate the accident involving the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and it has not stepped back from this stand.
While Ajit Pawar’s party is in power, no case has been registered in Maharashtra. However, the Congress government in Karnataka has registered a case and is pursuing it. At the time of withdrawing the nomination, Karnataka’s Home Minister sought updates on the case, and MLA Rohit Pawar also met him. Senior State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe was also present during this interaction. Sapkal reiterated that standing firm on its principles is the hallmark of the Congress party.
