In her first reaction following the early counting trends, Sunetra Pawar dedicated the mandate to the enduring public trust in her late husband, Ajit Pawar. She stated that this election marked an unprecedented moment in her life, as she had never anticipated entering the electoral arena under such circumstances. She described the votes received as a genuine tribute to Ajit Pawar and expressed deep gratitude to the electorate for their unwavering support.
The by-election, conducted on April 23, was necessitated by the death of Ajit Pawar in an airplane crash near Baramati in Pune district on January 28. The Nationalist Congress Party fielded Sunetra Pawar from the constituency, long regarded as a bastion of the Pawar family’s political influence.
In a rare political gesture, no major opposition party, including the Congress, fielded a candidate against her, effectively turning the contest into a symbolic reaffirmation of the family’s legacy in the region.
Sunetra Pawar acknowledged the support extended by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar and Baramati Member of Parliament Supriya Sule. She emphasized that Baramati represents her family and credited the decision of Sharad Pawar not to contest the seat as a reflection of collective unity. She further noted the longstanding development work and public trust built by Supriya Sule and the Pawar family, pledging to carry forward that legacy through continued service and development initiatives.
She also extended congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party for their sweeping victories in the West Bengal and Assam Assembly elections, stating that the results reflect the people’s renewed confidence in leadership and governance.
Early trends indicate that Sunetra Pawar’s victory margin could challenge longstanding electoral records set within her own family. Ajit Pawar currently holds the record for the highest victory margin in a Maharashtra Assembly election, having won the Baramati seat in 2019 by 1.65 lakh votes. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar holds the record for the highest vote share in the constituency, securing 75 percent of the votes in the 1990 election.
As counting progresses, Sunetra Pawar’s performance is being closely watched for its potential to surpass these benchmarks, underscoring both a personal and political milestone. The outcome not only consolidates the Pawar family’s dominance in Baramati but also signals a moment of continuity, resilience, and emotional resonance in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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