Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar. File | Photo credit: Emmanuel Yogini
The Maharashtra Congress on Monday (April 6, 2026) said it would consider withdrawing from the Baramati assembly polls if a first information report (FIR) is registered over the plane crash that killed former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
In a statement, state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe dismissed claims that the April 23 by-election should be held unopposed and accused the BJP of adopting a “convenient” political stance.
The Congress on Sunday (April 5, 2026) pitted its state unit secretary Akash More against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar over the Baramati bypoll that claimed the death of sitting Nationalist Congress MLA and then Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in the constituency on January 28.
He has represented the Pune district seat eight times, with some of his victories coming by record margins.
While the opposition NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) extended support to allow the by-poll to go ahead unopposed, the Congress insisted on contesting it.
Mr Londhe said the party and its candidate would consider withdrawing from the fray if an FIR was registered in Baramati for the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar.
Expressing concern over the circumstances surrounding Ajit Pawar’s death, the Congress leader noted that the family had asked for an inquiry into the matter and Sunetra Pawar had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate.
He also pointed out that NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar had repeatedly tried to get an FIR registered in Maharashtra but succeeded only in Karnataka.
Mr. Londhe further argued that there is no such consistent precedent for holding by-polls unopposed after the demise of incumbent legislators.
He cited the election poll in Nanded after the death of Vasantrao Chavan and in Mangalwedha, Solapur, after the demise of Bharat Bhalke.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of double standards and alleged that the ruling party was acting according to its political advantages on such issues.
Published – 06 Apr 2026 13:10 IST
