Pune, April 6: The Baramati Assembly by-election has taken a dramatic turn. Congress candidate and lawyer Akash More has stated that he will only withdraw his nomination if the Maharashtra government files an FIR regarding the plane crash involving Ajit Pawar. In a media interaction, he emphasized that this incident was not merely coincidental and that uncovering the truth is crucial.
More remarked, “We are fighting to protect democracy and oppose the BJP’s ideology. I will consider withdrawing my nomination only if the government registers an FIR and conducts a serious investigation into this matter.”
As a lawyer with a political legacy—his father contested against Ajit Pawar in 2014—More has raised questions about the transparency of the Maharashtra government. He stated that the Home Ministry should take the death of such a prominent leader seriously. “Ajit Dada has left us, and the question arises: why has no FIR been filed or investigation initiated? We may have opposed Ajit Dada politically, but we stood with him on matters of state development. If a major leader dies in an accident and no FIR is filed, it raises serious concerns,” he added.
More also mentioned that Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal agrees with this stance. Senior party spokesperson Atul Londhe supported More’s condition, stating, “After Ajit Dada’s demise, his family also demanded an investigation. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar called for a CBI inquiry, but where is that process now? Rohit Pawar had to travel across Maharashtra to file an FIR, which ultimately was only registered in Karnataka. Is this the sensitivity we expect? We demand that the FIR be registered in Maharashtra, especially in Baramati, before we make any decisions.”
Londhe announced that More will file his nomination on Monday, which has sparked considerable discussion and criticism. Many suggest that the Congress should allow uncontested voting in this election, citing past instances such as the elections following the deaths of Vasant Rao Chavan in Nanded and Bharat Bhalke in Mangalwedha. “There are countless examples where the BJP has manipulated politics to suit its needs,” he stated.
This move by Congress has thwarted the possibility of an uncontested election. Initially, it was anticipated that Sunetra Pawar, with support from Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, could win without opposition. However, the decision to field Akash More has surprised many and introduced demands for his withdrawal.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar had previously attempted to ensure an uncontested election, but Congress’s entry into the race has changed the dynamics. As the deadline for withdrawal approaches, all eyes are on the Mahayuti government to see how they respond to this demand. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has urged the people of Baramati to elect Sunetra Pawar by a record majority.
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