MUMBAI: Sunetra Pawar, who was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister just three days after the death of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January, has won the Baramati by-election by a record margin, buoyed by legacy and public sympathy in her first Assembly contest.
The 62-year-old leader, thrust into the political spotlight following the passing of the senior NCP figure, polled 2,18,969 votes, winning by a margin of 2,18,034. None of her 22 rivals, most of them Independents, crossed even four digits.
The NCP claimed her victory margin is the highest ever recorded in an Assembly election, surpassing the previous record set in 2022. Notably, the Opposition MVA did not field a candidate in the 23 April bypoll as a mark of respect to Ajit Pawar.
All other candidates together secured just 4,837 votes. R Y Ghutukade of the New Rashtriya Samaj Party received the highest among them with 935 votes, while 774 voters opted for NOTA.
Her margin exceeded that of her late husband, who had won the seat by 1,65,265 votes in 2019. In 2024, his margin had narrowed to just over one lakh votes.
Describing the result as a tribute to her husband’s legacy, Sunetra Pawar thanked the people of Baramati for their overwhelming support and urged restraint in celebrations, calling the mandate a mark of respect for Ajit Pawar.
In a message, she said the victory was not merely political success but a continuation of her husband’s vision and connection with the people. She added that his values would guide her as she takes forward his work.
Echoing her sentiments, her son Jay Pawar thanked voters and appealed against celebrations, noting that the election itself had come under unfortunate circumstances. He also referred to a recent tragic incident in neighbouring Bhor tehsil, which has sparked public outrage.
Sunetra Pawar’s emphatic win reflects both a sympathy wave and the Pawar family’s longstanding influence in Baramati, a constituency Ajit Pawar represented eight times. Her elevation as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister and her electoral success signal a new phase for the NCP, now under her leadership.
Originally from Tera village in Dharashiv district, she comes from a politically active family but had largely stayed away from frontline politics until recently. A commerce graduate with interests in the arts and agriculture, she had been engaged in farming and social initiatives.
She contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Baramati but lost, and was later elected to the Rajya Sabha. She is also known for her work in environmental sustainability, rural development, and women’s empowerment, including initiatives in water management, biodiversity conservation, and self-help groups.
As she takes charge, she faces the challenge of maintaining unity within the NCP following its split in 2023, while navigating coalition politics with its allies in the state government.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the people of Baramati had endorsed Ajit Pawar’s developmental vision through this decisive mandate.
(With inputs from PTI)
