Baramati: The NCP SP chief and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he will be unable to cast his vote in the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election slated for April 23 due to health complications.
This marks the first time since he contested his first election in 1967 that the senior leader will miss exercising his franchise in his home bastion.
The by-election, scheduled for later this week, was necessitated by the tragic and untimely demise of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar earlier this year.
Pawar could not attend the concluding poll campaign rally held in Baramati on Tuesday due to his hospitalisation. His message was read out to the audience by the NCP working president, Praful Patel.
Addressing the citizens of Baramati from a hospital in Mumbai through his post on X, Pawar expressed deep regret over his physical absence.
“I have consistently exercised my right to vote in Baramati since 1967. I had fully intended to travel to Baramati to maintain this tradition. However, due to sudden health issues, I have been hospitalised. Doctors have strictly advised against travel, citing the need for treatment and mandatory rest,” the veteran leader stated.
Pawar further clarified that he explored all alternative voting methods, including postal ballots and digital options provided by the Election Commission, but was informed by state election officials that these facilities were not available to him under the current circumstances.
In a significant development for the Mahayuti-MVA dynamics, Pawar reaffirmed that his party, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), has officially declared support for Sunetra Ajit Pawar in this by-election. Pawar described the support for Sunetra Pawar as a “fitting tribute” to the late Ajit Pawar from the party.
He urged the voters of Baramati—who have stood by him for over five decades—to vote overwhelmingly for Sunetra Pawar as a mark of respect for the departed leader.
Pawar expressed confidence that the workers and voters of Baramati would understand his predicament and honour his call for solidarity.
The political observers said that the endorsement by Sharad Pawar effectively turns the Baramati bypoll into a symbolic unification of the Pawar family’s political legacy, potentially paving the way for an unopposed or landslide victory for Sunetra Pawar in honour of her late husband.
(IANS)
