Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, will contest the bypoll in alliance with the BJP.

After submitting her nomination, she addressed reporters, stating she was attempting to persuade Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure the election is unopposed, implying that Congress candidate Akash Vijayrao More should withdraw his nomination. “Praful Patel and I are trying to contact Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge to request him to get this election unopposed. This is the toughest election of my life; such a time should not come to anyone. This election is not mine alone; this is the election of all Baramati people,” Pawar said.

NCP working president Praful Patel supported her appeal, revealing he had sent messages to Kharge’s assistant regarding the matter. “For the Baramati elections, we tried to discuss with the leaders of all the parties. I have been trying to talk to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the past 3 days. We could not talk, but my message has been sent to his Personal Assistant. I appeal to him that the Congress Party support these elections,” Patel stated.

Maharashtra Ministers Aditi Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Chandrashekhar Bawankule also endorsed the call for an unopposed by-election in Baramati. Tatkare said, “She has filed the Baramati by-election nomination. This election is happening after Ajit Pawar. We never thought of the Baramati elections without him. She is the Deputy CM of the state. Everyone is requesting that this election be unopposed.” Bhujbal added, “All the parties support her. We will hold a discussion with the Congress party… Sunetra Pawar will get elected.” Bawankule remarked, “The public of Maharashtra wants to see what role the Congress plays. We are appealing to them from the public of Maharashtra… This will be Congress’s biggest defeat.”

In contrast, Congress leader Nana Patole criticised the BJP for breaking the tradition of withdrawing candidates after the demise of an incumbent, a practice he said was initiated by Congress. He also stated he was unaware of the party’s decision to contest the Baramati by-election. “This tradition was started by the Congress after the demise of Gopinath Munde. The BJP broke it, and they filled out the forms for their candidates. I don’t know on what basis this decision was taken,” he said.

Sunetra Pawar paid tribute to her late husband and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash while travelling to Baramati earlier this year. “It has only been two months since we lost Dada, and because of that, we have to face this by-election. I never even imagined in my dreams that such a time would come. His passing is a loss not just for Baramati, but for the state and the entire country. Baramati was like a mother to him; his very breath belonged to Baramati. Even today, everyone is grieving. The courage I have today comes from all of you standing by me. Dada always used to say, ‘The burden of your vote is upon me,’ which is why he worked 24 hours a day,” she said.

“The path of development for Baramati, shown by Sharad Pawar, was taken forward by Dada. I assure you that I will not let it stop. No one can ever take Dada’s place, but I have resolved to carry his work forward,” she added.

Paying tribute to “Dada,” she pledged to “continue to work for Baramati’s development for the rest of my life” and assured that law and order would be maintained, farmers would receive support, and remaining projects would be completed.

Reflecting on the legacy of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and late Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister said she had forty years of political experience. “All of Baramati is my family, and I will continue to work for its development for the rest of my life. I will not leave even a single party worker to stand alone. Ensuring that people’s work continues is the only true tribute to him. Even though Dada is no longer with us, law and order will be maintained in Baramati. Farmers will continue to receive support just as before, and all remaining pending projects will be completed. Although I had social experience even before marriage, as the daughter-in-law of Sharad Pawar and the wife of Ajit Pawar, I carry forty years of political experience with me,” she said.

Congress named Akash Vijayrao More, secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, as its candidate for the Baramati by-election on April 5. His candidacy was approved by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. More's father, Vijayrao More, was a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

The Election Commission of India has scheduled the by-elections for the Baramati and Rahuri Assembly constituencies on April 23, with vote counting to take place on May 4.